Description
Pinus maximartinezii, is a pine in the pinyon pine group, native to west-central Mexico. Is one of the rarest pines in the world. This beautiful species is found only in a small area south of Zacatecas, Mexico; where it is part of a dry forest at altitudes between 1500 and 2600 meters. It grows as a small to medium-sized tree, reaching 15 meters in height with a wide crown and a stocky trunk. Its needle-shaped leaves are bluish-green in color. Its large cones can weigh up to 2 kg.
It is currently being used as an ornamental crop in some botanical gardens around the world.
In its native habitat, Pinus maximartinezii occurs in very rocky soils and shallow water. It is resistant to drought and temperatures of around -5 to -8°C.
Due to its adaptability to low humidity conditions and shallow soils, this species represents an excellent alternative for reforesting eroded areas.
The intensive harvesting of cones and seeds by local inhabitants, grazing fires and subsequent erosion diminish their chances of survival; however, efforts by private landowners and a few conscientious residents are being made to prevent forest fires and the work of planting seeds projects a bright light along this tunnel.
Pinus maximartinezii has unique characteristics: it has 15 to 30 cotyledonous leaves, the largest number recorded for any conifer. The primary leaves persist in juveniles for up to 10 years and appear on the lateral branches of mature trees, sometimes for more than 20 years; and it is the pine with the largest cones and seeds in the world.
Fresh seeds for this magnificent specimen.
Germination Guide
🌍 Sierra Madre Occidental mountains of west-central Mexico (Zacatecas and Durango), elevation 1800-2400 meters
Difficult
Pinus maximartinezii (Big-cone Pinyon) is an endangered Mexican pinyon pine native to isolated mountain regions of the Sierra Madre Occidental. This extremely rare species is notable for producing the world's largest pine seeds and seedlings with up to 24 cotyledons, the highest number of any plant. Seed germination is challenging due to water-impermeable seed coats, requiring hot water scarification and cold stratification treatments for successful propagation.
Germination
Germination time
Expect germination in
21 – 60 days
Temperature
Min 15°C
Ideal 20°C
Max 25°C
🌡️ Temperature alternation recommended
— A 6-11°C (15-20°F) day-night temperature differential is beneficial for seedling development and metabolic regulation
Substrate moisture
💧 Medium
Sowing depth
Lightly covered
Seed Pre-treatment
-
💧
Soaking — 24 hours
Imbibition in warm to hot water for 24 hours is essential due to water-impermeable seed coats. This initial soaking facilitates subsequent cold stratification
-
🔨
Hot water scarification
Immerse seeds in warm to hot water (not boiling) for 24 hours to overcome water-impermeable seed coats. Scarification effectiveness varies by seed origin; seeds with thinner coats (1.4 mm) may germinate without treatment, while thicker-coated seeds require scarification
-
❄️
Cold stratification — 30 days at 4°C
-
📋
Additional notes
Immerse seeds in warm water for 24 hours, followed by cold stratification for 30-45 days at 4°C in moist vermiculite or peat. Treatment effectiveness depends on provenance and seed coat thickness
Substrate & Container
Recommended substrate
High-quality, light, well-draining seed-starting substrate; vermiculite or peat mixed with perlite or sand
Recommended container
Individual containers or pots after germination; keep seedlings in pots for several years until mature foliage appears
Growing Tips
Always use hot water scarification (24 hours) before cold stratification to overcome seed dormancy. Germination is variable (60-75%) and slow (3-8 weeks). Maintain consistent medium moisture without waterlogging; fungal damping-off is a significant risk. Seedlings require bright indirect light and benefit from significant day-night temperature fluctuations (15-20°C difference). Keep young plants in containers for several years as they produce juvenile blue-green foliage before mature needles appear. Provide frost protection for the first 2 years. This species is challenging to grow; outdoor placement in summers and protected greenhouse conditions in winter yield best results. Germination success varies by seed origin; seeds from Zacatecas typically germinate better than those from Durango.
Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.