Pinus × kohae
Arizona singleleaf pinyon
Southwestern United States (Arizona and neighbouring states)
Overview
Pinus × kohae is an evergreen pinyon pine of hybrid origin between P. monophylla and P. edulis, found in the dry mountains and plateaus of the southwestern United States. It is a small, slow-growing tree 10–30 feet (3–9 m) tall with a short trunk and a dense, rounded to irregular crown. The stiff, resinous needles are intermediate between the parents, borne one or two to a bundle, 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) long, and grey-green to blue-green. The bark is grey-brown and furrowed on older trunks. Rounded woody cones 1.5–2.5 inches (4–6 cm) long ripen over two seasons and open to release large, wingless, edible seeds, the pine nuts gathered from both parent species. It grows on dry, rocky, well-drained slopes in full sun and tolerates intense heat, hard cold, and prolonged drought. Growth is very slow, and trees may take decades to bear cones. It declines in wet, poorly drained soil and in shade.
Native Range
The hybrid occurs in the southwestern United States, in Arizona and neighbouring states where the ranges of P. monophylla and P. edulis overlap. It grows in pinyon-juniper woodland on dry mesas, foothills, and rocky slopes.Suggested Uses
Planted as a slow-growing evergreen for dry gardens, windbreaks, and rocky banks in the Southwest, and as a large container or bonsai subject. The seeds give food for birds and small mammals.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height10' - 30'
Width/Spread10' - 20'
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Yellow (pollen cones)Foliage Description
Grey-green to blue-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in full sun on dry, rocky, sharply drained soil with a pH from 6.5 to 8.0 and needs no water once established. Wet or poorly drained soil and shade cause decline and root disease. It tolerates intense heat, hard cold, wind, and long drought. Growth is very slow, a few inches a year, and trees are long-lived. Little or no pruning or feeding is needed. Hardy through about USDA zones 5–8.Pruning
Pruning is limited to removing dead or broken branches, done in dry weather to limit disease and pitch flow. The natural rounded form needs no shaping. Lower branches can be removed to lift the crown if wanted.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
summer
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 10 gallons