Tree
Aleppo Pine
Pinus halepensis · Pinaceae
Also called: Jerusalem Pine
Aleppo Pine (Pinus halepensis) is a low-water tree well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It thrives in full sun, with a moderate to fast growth rate.
Aleppo Pine at a glance
- Water use
- Low (established)
- Sun
- Full sun
- Mature size
- 30-60 ft tall and 20-40 ft wide; develops an open, irregular canopy with age.
- Growth rate
- Moderate to fast
- Bloom
- N/A (conifer; brown cones), Spring (non-showy male/female cones)
- Cold hardiness
- Very cold-hardy for the low desert; tolerates temperatures well below Tucson's coldest winter lows. No frost protection needed.
- Soil
- Highly adaptable; thrives in Tucson's alkaline, rocky, sandy, well-drained soils. Intolerant of poorly drained or chronically wet soils.
- Native range
- Mediterranean Basin (southern Europe, North Africa, Middle East)
- Best used as
- Shade tree, Windbreak/screen, Erosion control, Large evergreen specimen
- Wildlife
- Seeds and cover used by birds and small mammals; evergreen canopy provides year-round shelter.
- Toxicity
- Not considered significantly toxic to people or pets; sap and needles can be mildly irritating.
How to grow Aleppo Pine in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Drought-tolerant once established. Water deeply but infrequently to 3 ft, soaking the area out near the canopy edge roughly every 3-4 weeks in summer heat and much less in winter. Avoid frequent shallow watering, which produces weak, shallow roots and increases blow-over risk in monsoon storms.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Low fertilizer needs; typically none required in landscape soils. If growth is poor, a light spring application of a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer can be used; watch for iron chlorosis in very alkaline conditions.
Pruning & care
Prune in late winter to remove dead or damaged limbs and to develop strong structure; thinning the canopy improves wind resistance. Avoid topping. Susceptible to Aleppo pine blight (winter needle browning) and to wind throw if over-watered.
Notes
A tough, fast-establishing evergreen widely planted in older Tucson neighborhoods for quick shade. Prone to wind throw when over-irrigated or planted in turf, and can be affected by Aleppo pine blight; deep, infrequent watering and good structural pruning are key. Drops needles and litter; site away from pools.
Sources: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension; AMWUA Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert; Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum