Tropical Pine Trees

[epicure3]

I have never thought of pine trees as tropical in any respect. I think of them more as residents of Colorado or Vermont and great for putting ornaments on around Christmas.

However, I have found that there are many species that are tropical in origin from Cuba to the S. Pacific. Here in S. California, we have lots of pine trees that are mostly sub-tropical from places such as the Canary Islands or the S. Mediterranean. Do any of our true tropical members grow these trees at all in contrast to more tropical looking species??

[fastfeat]

Southern slash pine ("Dade County pine"), P. elliottii var. densa, occurs from about Orlando south through the West Indies and into Central America. Not sure how much it varies from Caribbean pitch pine (P. caribaea) or other species of tropical origins. I think there are young trees of the latter at MBC, probably other tropical species as well.

I think there are trees of Loblolly pine (P. taeda) and longleaf pine (P. palustris) (neither tropical, but grow in humid subtropics) at Fullerton Arboretum. The Loblolly looks rather stressed (probably better w/ more water); the longleaf does surprisingly well and looks much like a Chir pine (P. roxburghii).

I think Chir pine stands a chance in tropical areas, despite coming from Himalayan foothills. (I've seen pics of trees in Bombay (tropical)). I doubt P. canariensis will make it in SoFla, as it prefers acid soils and drier climates.

[epicure3]

I started wondering about pines when I stumbled on some info for Pinus Tropicalis which is native to the highlands in western Cuba. Good info, though. Thanks.

[Eric in Orlando]

We are growing several Pinus that extend into tropical regions;

P. caribaea var. hondurensis- S. Mexico to Belize, Honduras and Nicaragua

P. oocarpa- southern Mexico to Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua

P. patula- southern Mexico

P. pseudostrobus- southern Mexico to El Salvador and Guatemala

and a couple from subtropical regions

P. clausa- AL and FL

P. elliottii- SE US

P. elliottii var. densa- cental and southern FL

P. roxburghii- Himalayan region

P. taiwanensis- Taiwan (but I think from higher altitudes)

I think P. elliottii (Slash Pine) is grown a lot for timber and reforestation in some subtropical and tropical regions and is naturalizing

[Tropicɑl desert]

https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Boynton+Beach,+Florida Florida conditions; a mediterranean with a tropical camouflage...

[bubba]

Here we go again! Yes we have pine trees in South Florida but the variety you have picked in the Google is a Pinus elliotti var. densa (also known as the Dade County Pine). The renowned Dade County Pine is cherished for it’s nearly impermeable nature. It is contemporaneous with the edges of Tropical hardwood hammocks from the Keys to Martin County. These areas are dominated by West Indian and Bahamian species ranging from gumbo limbo, strangler fig, Jamaican dogwood, West Indian mahogany, Bahama strongback, Cuban colubrina and Spicewood. Not analogous with Mediterranean.