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Native Pine Nuts
Browse our collection of native pine nuts below or filter and compare products using the plant finder.
Western North America is home to more than twenty native pine species, but only about five reliably produce large, palatable nuts for people. We aim to collect them all—Singleleaf Pinyon, Colorado Pinyon, Sugar Pine, and Foothill (Gray) Pine—and we plan to offer Torrey Pine in Fall of 2026. Together, they represent a pine for nearly every habitat in the West—from high desert to mountain forest to coastal bluff. Enjoy the wild flavor and nutrition of the best in the West!
See the comparison table below to choose the best fit for your site and harvest goals.
| Species | Common Name | Native Range (West) | USDA Zones | Nut Size & Flavor | Bearing Age (approx.) | Growth & Drought | Mature Size | Harvest Notes / Special |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pinus monophylla | Singleleaf Pinyon | Great Basin: CA (east), NV, UT, AZ, NM [FEIS] | 5–8 | Large, soft-shelled; sweet, buttery; easy to hand-shell | ~25–35 yrs (good crops much later) [USDA Silvics] | Slow–moderate; excellent drought tolerance [USDA PLANTS] | 15–35 ft (compact crown) | Heavy crops in mast years; great for dry slopes and food forests [FEIS] |
| Pinus edulis | Colorado Pinyon | CO, NM, AZ, UT (Four Corners & surrounds) [USDA PLANTS] | 4–8 | Medium-large; rich, classic “pinenut” flavor | ~25+ yrs; good crops 75–100 yrs [FEIS] [CABI] | Slow–moderate; high drought & cold tolerance [FEIS] | 20–40 ft | Dependable in interior sites; pairs well with dryland guilds |
| Pinus lambertiana | Sugar Pine | Sierra Nevada, S Cascades, coastal mountains (CA/OR) [USDA PLANTS] [Conifers.org] | 5–8 | Large, sweet, oily kernels; excellent flavor | ~20–30 yrs (faster in deep, moist loams) [USDA Silvics] | Moderate growth; needs good drainage, regular winter moisture [USDA Silvics] | 120–200+ ft (grand forest tree) [overview] | Cones are huge and high; plan harvest tools/strategy [USDA Silvics] |
| Pinus sabiniana | Foothill (Gray) Pine | CA interior foothills (Sierra & Coast Ranges) [CNPS] | 8–9 (can push 10 in cool sites) | Very large nuts; rich, sometimes resinous notes | ~10–20 yrs (faster than most pines) | Fast for a pine; exceptional drought/heat tolerance [CNPS] | 40–80 ft | Great low-water orchard/hedgerow pine; heavy cones [USFS FEIS] |
| Pinus torreyana | Torrey Pine | Extreme S. California coast & Channel Islands [CA State Parks] | 9–10 | Large, superb flavor (gourmet quality) | ~15–25 yrs | Moderate; prefers coastal/Mediterranean conditions [Conifers.org] | 30–60 ft (coastal form) | Conservation note: wild populations are endangered; source only from responsible nurseries [USFS FEIS] |
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