Scientific Name
Pinus monophylla
This small pine is native primarily to high elevations above 4,000 feet in Nevada, with a subspecies found across much of Arizona and additional occurrences in Utah and California. Its range overlaps with other pinyon pines, and natural hybridization has been documented.
Its most distinctive feature is its foliage. The needles emerge singly rather than in bundles, making it the only pine in the world with this arrangement. The needles are typically a light blue-green, a common trait in plants adapted to intense sunlight. The cones, about 3 inches long, are the largest among the pinyon pines, whose cones are otherwise much smaller.
Adapted to its native environment, this tree tolerates both heat and drought as well as cold conditions. Its seeds are an important food source for wildlife, especially the pinyon jay, which collects and caches them. Humans also value the seeds, much like the more familiar Colorado pinyon nuts.
Single-needle pinyon is generally a small tree. While it can occasionally reach 60 feet, it more often matures at around 30 feet, especially in cultivation. It is relatively rare in Colorado, with no current listings on the state champion tree register, unlike the more common Colorado pinyon. There are, however, some fine specimens at the Denver Botanic Gardens in xeric plantings. The Regis tree is somewhat tucked away northwest of the Residence Village, behind lacebark pines, and can be seen more easily by walking north along the east edge of the parking lot.