Canary Island pine

Pinus canariensis

Its long needles comb water out of passing clouds, and it resprouts from the trunk after fire.

Type: canopy tree · native and wild plants
Hardiness: zones 9 to 11
Light: full sun
Size: about 80 ft tall, 30 ft wide
From: Canary Islands
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.

Good for: wildlife, screens and hedges.

Native to: Atlantic islands (Macaronesia). Hardy in zones 9 to 11.

The story

Great forests of this pine ring the high slopes of Tenerife, La Palma and Gran Canaria. Its needles, the longest of any European pine, catch droplets from the trade-wind clouds and drip them to the ground, watering the forest and the springs below. After fire it sprouts fresh green straight from the blackened trunk.

Planting

Full sun in well-drained soil, with plenty of room; this is a big tree. Plant young trees in autumn.

Growing

Fast for a pine once settled, and drought-hardy. No pruning needed; let the lower branches fall on their own.

Harvest and use

Grown for shelter, shade and wildlife. The fallen needles, pinocha, are raked up on the islands as mulch and animal bedding.

What to watch for

Frost below about -6°C harms young trees. Too big for a small garden.

See if Canary Island pine fits your yard
Free planner: enter your ZIP for frost dates, climate fit and a sowing calendar. No account, no ads, no tracking cookies.

More native and wild plants

General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home