Coulter Pine

Coulter pine (Pinus coulteri), or big-cone pine, is a species of conifer in the family Pinaceae. Coulter pine is a medium-sized coniferous tree that lives up to 100 years. It is a native of the coastal mountains of Southern California in the United States and northern Baja California in Mexico, occurring in mediterranean climates, where winter rains are infrequent and summers are dry with occasional thunderstorms. Isolated groves are found as far north as Clearlake, California, on the flanks of Mt. Konocti and in Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve. Although geographically isolated, these Coulter pine populations were very similar in all of three studies of morphological characteristics. Oleoresins (volatile portions) were also similar.

While the species has a limited range in the wild, the Coulter pine is a popular ornamental tree and is grown in many countries.

Coulter pine (Pinus coulteri) is named after Thomas Coulter, an Irish botanist and physician. The Coulter pine produces some of the heaviest cones of any pine tree, up to 3.63 kg (8 lb); among conifers, these are exceeded only by the cones of Araucaria bidwillii.