Which tree species has the longest cones, up to 60 cm?

Which tree species has the longest cones, up to 60 cm? The answer is sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana).

Sugar pine is native to the mountains of western North America, ranging from Oregon through California to Baja California. Its enormous, cylindrical seed cones usually measure about 25–50 cm, with exceptional cones reaching roughly 60 cm. They hang from long stalks and are among the most distinctive features of this pine.

The species is also remarkable for its overall size. Sugar pine is commonly described as the tallest and largest pine by volume, with mature trees often reaching 40–60 m. Its needles occur in bundles of five, helping distinguish it from several other white pines.

A common mix-up involves Coulter pine. Coulter pine produces extremely large and heavy cones, but sugar pine holds the better-known record for length. White pine is also a misleading option because several white pines share similar needle arrangements, while their cones are generally much shorter.