Although Arizona is mostly a dry state, its mild climate is conducive to trees and plants that thrive, and whether you’re a homeowner or a professional gardener, you deserve to find a tree that will grow and thrive whether it’s on your property or in a community garden. Arizona is home to trees such as the ash, juniper, cypress, oak, cottonwood, and pine, so you truly have a lot to choose from. Let’s focus on the types of pine in Arizona for now.
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Pine trees are coniferous trees and get quite large. They are also able to live from 100 to 1,000 years. There are four different types of leaves, with the most-common being the needle-like leaves. The wood of the pine tree is very hard and sturdy, which is why it is used so often in construction, furniture, and even flooring. Occasionally, pine shrubs can grow, and these are usually around 10 feet in height.
Most pine trees grow from 50 to 150 feet tall, making them quite majestic. They have cones and seeds, the latter of which are often edible. If you’re curious about which pine trees are found in the state of Arizona – which has several different elevations – read on because below are the three main types found there.
Related: 8 Of The Best Palm Trees For Arizona
1. Arizona Pine (Pinus arizonica)
This is a medium sized pine which is, as the name implies, very common in the state of Arizona. A mature tree can grow up to 25 to 35 meters tall. There are several varieties, which is likely due to hybridization with the ponderosa pine.
This type of pine is commonly harvested for firewood in Arizona. Unfortunately this has greatly reduced their numbers, especially in Mexico.
2. Pinyon Pine (Pinus edulis)
In some publications, this is spelled “pinyon,” and it is a type of tree found mostly in the southwestern part of the United States, for instance Colorado. The nuts from the tree were once a staple food for Native Americans, and when you burn the wood of the tree, you get a very pleasant aroma.
The pinon pine tree has needles that are stout and grow in pairs, which is one of the reasons it is sometimes called the two-needle pinon pine tree. It typically grows to around 66 feet in height, and its cones provide nourishment for all types of wildlife. In addition to Arizona, you can find this tree in other southwestern states and into parts of Mexico.
3. Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa)
The Ponderosa pine tree has been known to get up to 230 feet and has a circumference of up to 27 feet, although the tallest one got up to a whopping 268 feet in height. It is a very attractive tree often found in public areas operated by local governments and municipalities, and the tree is the second-tallest tree next to the sugar pine tree.
With bright-green needles and a dark brownish-black bark, it is a striking tree that is easy to notice, and some of the places you can see the tree include parks, gardens, and dozens of other public places and areas.
4. Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis)
Also called the Rocky Mountain white pine tree, the limber pine gets up to around 65 feet high, although they have been known to get as high as 80 feet. The lightweight, soft wood is appropriate for a variety of products, but it isn’t usually used for furniture, construction projects, and similar jobs.
The tree has long dark needles and is found mostly in areas that have high elevations. The nuts of the tree provide nourishment for wildlife that includes the red squirrel and the American black bear. They can be found in some parts of the southwest, as well as the northwest and parts of Canada.
