Botanical Name: Pinus quadrifolia
Common Name: Four-needle Pinyon, Parry Pinyon
Type of Plant: conifer: tree
Character evergreen
 
Habit of Growth:
Overall Shape single-trunked, upright, very erect and pyramidal in youth, becoming more irregular with an open flat top with age
Height 15'-30' (40')
Spread 1/2 - 2/3
Growth Rate slow
 
Environment:
Exposure outdoors requires full sun and heat; avoid shade
Soil prefers well-draining porous soils
Hardiness hardy (zones 12-21, 23): thrives in hot inland locations
 
Morphology:
Leaves needles, in clusters of (mostly) four per fascicle; whorled along the stem; stiff, pale blue-green, 1"-2" long
Flowers male and female cones; small, inconspicuous; male cones soon disintegrating as the pollen matures
Fruit female cone: round-oval, tan, 2"-3" long
 
Propagation:
seed
 
Usage:
an outstanding small accent tree, prized at any age for its dense rugged form and blue-green foliage; good for slopes; can be used as large container plant; thought to be the most picturesque of all pinyon species
 
Landscape Care:
Watering an occasional deep soak; the plant becomes very drought-tolerant after established
Fertilizing none
Pruning none required; selectively heading back promotes fuller shape; thinning out promotes rugged shape
Pests/Diseases relatively free; appears to be smog resistant
Special Conditions/Other best adapted of the pinyons to L.A. Basin habitats
 
Origin: San Jacinto/Laguna Mountains south to Northern Baja
Family: Pinaceae

Notes:
 
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