Hoyt Arboretum, Portland, Oregon, USA

Common name: Knobcone Pine

Family: Pinaceae

Distribution: Southwest Oregon and California

Habitat: Serpentine soils and rocky outcrops

IUCN Red list: Least concern

Hardiness: Zone 7a 0 to 5 F

Life form: Evergreen conifer

Comments: Knobcone Pine is a small three-needle pine growing to a maximum height of 80 feet (25 m.) The unique clusters of knobby cones are woody, closed tight, and grip the tree so tightly that they sometimes become embedded in the tree trunk as the tree grows around them. They often remain closed for years until the seeds are released after a fire.