Torrey Pine

18. Torrey Pine

(Pinus torreyana)

Location: UCD Arbotetum, Redwood Grove
Nominator: Roberta Millstein


There are several large Torrey pine in the UC Davis Arboretum. The largest grows among the redwoods, towering 130-ft tall with a girth of 13.5 feet. According to Warren Roberts, superintendent of the UC Davis Arboretum, the tree was planted in 1941 when most trees in the T. Elliot Weier Redwood Grove were planted. This tree was nominated by Roberta Millstein, who loves the majestic character of Torrey pine trees.

She writes, “In their native habitats, Torrey pines are gnarled from the wind. The one in the arboretum grows straight and tall. It illustrates the huge role that environment plays in an organism’s development — a lesson for us all!”

Native stands of Torrey pine are restricted to coastal Southern California, and the species is considered one of the rarest pines in the world. As this Great Tree demonstrates, in gardens with rich soil and ample moisture, Torrey pine can grow much taller than the 60-ft mature trees found in the wild.

Category: Unusual Form
Age: 68
Height: 129 ft
Spread: 78 ft
Girth: 13.5 ft

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