Stone pine
Pinus pinea
The umbrella pine of Roman roads; its cones hold the pine nuts of pesto and take three years to ripen.
Hardiness: zones 8 to 10
Light: full sun
Size: about 50 ft tall, 40 ft wide
Harvest: September to November
From: Mediterranean
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: food, wildlife.
Native to: Mediterranean. Hardy in zones 8 to 10.
The story
The stone pine's nuts, pignoli, have been gathered in Italy and Spain since the Etruscans and Romans, who stored them in amphorae; Pompeii's ruins held them, and pesto needs them. The umbrella-shaped tree is the silhouette of Rome.
Planting
Full sun, dry, sandy, drained soil, and a Mediterranean climate; it is slow and large, 60 feet. Plant young and be patient; cones take three years to ripen.
Growing
Water the first two summers, then never. No pruning. It takes 15 to 25 years to bear.
Harvest and use
Gather cones in late spring before they open, dry in the sun until they shed, and crack the hard shells. Roast lightly.
What to watch for
Western conifer seed bug, which empties the nuts; wet soil.
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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