Pinus washoensis - Conifer - Washoe Pine Page

Discover the beauty of Pinus washoensis, also known as Washoe Pine, a unique and distinct species of pine tree. While some experts argue that it may be synonymous with P. ponderosa subsp. ponderosa, the cones of Pinus washoensis are unmistakably different, suggesting it deserves recognition as a variety or even a subspecies of P. ponderosa.

Found in the breathtaking Mount Rose, Nevada, Pinus washoensis is believed by many botanists to be a southern outlier of the typical North Plateau race of ponderosa pine. Previously, botanists assumed that the ponderosa pines in both the North Plateau and Pacific race were the same, until two California botanists stumbled upon a tree with marked differences in western Nevada in 1948. Intrigued by its unique characteristics, they described it as a new species, Washoe pine, Pinus washoensis.

Further research has indicated that Pinus washoensis is indeed a variation of P. ponderosa, specifically the North Plateau race. However, its small-coned form remains distinguishable in the field, making it a fascinating and distinct species. Though not present in all the areas where collections have been described, Pinus washoensis thrives at the type locality of Mount Rose, Nevada.

Renowned dendrologists and authoritative published sources recognize Pinus washoensis as a separate species. This page serves as a representation of the comprehensive research conducted on Washoe pine.

The discovery of Pinus washoensis was a result of the work of Herbert Mason, a California botanist who found a small-coned version of P. jeffreyi on the east slope of Mount Rose in Nevada. Further exploration of the Mount Rose stand revealed a substantial regeneration of the trees following logging in the 1860s. In 1945, Mason and Stockwell classified these trees as a new species.

However, their classification was challenged when similar populations were discovered in the Warner and Bald Mountains of Northeast California in the 1960s. Even populations in British Columbia were mistakenly identified as P. washoensis. This error was rectified during a review of the species conducted by F. Lauria in the 1990s.

Come and explore the fascinating world of Pinus washoensis, a captivating variation of P. ponderosa that showcases the wonders and diversity of nature.