How do you identify a pine cone?

Pine seed cones can be large to small and come in varying shapes. Some pine cones are oval-shaped like an egg, whereas other species of pine trees produce conical cones. One of the distinguishing features between pine cones and fir cones is that pine cones hang down from the branches.

What type of Pinecone is this?

Coulter pines, native to the mountains of southern California (U.S.) and Baja California (Mexico), produce the most-massive cones of any pine species. Known colloquially as “widow-makers,” those giant pinecones can weigh up to 5 kg (11 pounds)!

How many different kinds of pine cones are there?

Only 20 varieties of pine tree worldwide produce cones with large enough pine nuts for harvesting.

What types of pine cones are poisonous?

Some plants tagged as pines, including Norfolk Island pine (​Araucaria heterophylla​, USDA zones 9-11) and Yew pine (​Podocarpus macrophyllus​, zones 7-9), are not true pines, but they both contain toxic compounds and should be planted with care when you’re looking for evergreen trees to grace your yard.

What do Scots pine cones look like?

The Scots pine is a tall, straight pine tree with distinctive orange-brown, scaly bark. Its blue-green needles appear in pairs and can be up to 7cm long. Male cones are yellow and female cones are green, maturing to grey-brown; pine cones range from 3-7.5cm long.

How can you tell the difference between a spruce and a pine?

The needles easily roll between your finger tips. Spruce needles are spiny and sharp (think SSS). Cones hang down from the branches. Fir tree needles also grow individually on the branch but the needles are soft and flat and don’t roll between your fingertips.

Why are there so many pine cones this year 2021?

For spruces and firs, it is similar phenomenon: Tree stress in 2020 resulted in increased production of cone buds that emerged and developed in 2021.

How do you tell the difference between a male and female pine cone?

Much like humans, coniferous trees have specialized male and female sex organs. male pine cones have close-knit “scales,” that hold pollen sacks, the pollen acting as air-borne “sperm;” female pine cones have looser scales and lie lower on a tree to make pollination easier.

Are green pine cones poisonous?

No, pine cones aren’t toxic for humans. However, you may have some allergic reactions to pine cones. It’s best to take a few bites and wait to see if there are any reactions. There are some rare cases of people experiencing pine nut syndrome or pine mouth.

Are all pine cones edible?

The truth is that all parts of certain pine trees, including the pine cone, are indeed edible. This includes: pine cones, needles, the inner layer of pine bark (not the outer layer!), resin, the pine pollen (secret superfood!), and the pine nuts. The pine cone may not be the best part to eat, but you can eat it.

What do spruce tree cones look like?

Spruce cones have smooth, thin scales, and are quite flexible and easy to bend. Pine cones have scales that are thick, rough and woody, which makes the cones inflexible. Feel the branches. The needles of spruce trees grow out of small woody pegs from the branches.