Shore Pine
Pinus contorta
Learn about the shore pine including when and why it was planted, how to identify it, and where to find it on campus.
Tree Facts
Family: Pinaceae
Type
Evergreen
WA native tree
Size
Medium (25-50 feet)
Small (less than 25 feet)
Traits
- Short, yellow-green needles that occur in bundles of two
- Grayish-brown, twisted, thin, scaly bark
- Orangey-brown twigs with sticky reddish-brown buds
Native Range
- Northwestern United States
- Southwest Canada
Story of the Tree
There is only one shore pine at Capitol Campus, and it is located at the southeast corner of the Insurance Building on West Campus. It was added to this landscape to provide an evergreen contrast to the surrounding deciduous trees.
The shore pine is highly adaptable and can grow in a variety of habitats from dunes to bogs to rocky hilltops. They tolerate low nutrients and salt spray. They're more commonly found in coastal areas but will grow just as fine further inland.
