Needles in fives persist 5-6 years. Resembles P. strobus in youth, but branches can be tied in knots.
Takes well to shearing. Large taproot makes transplanting difficult. Unusual among pines for tolerance of clay, compaction, wet soil (though rooting is shallower therein), and cold winds; also more tolerant than other 5-needled pines of salt spray. Note however that none of my other sources back up UFL on the wet soil point. Sandy soil tolerance is debated (Cal Poly vs. USDA), as is soil compaction tolerance (UFL vs. USDA), but UFL and Cal Poly outnumber USDA on clay tolerance.
When I say "edible fruit" for this one, I am of course referring to the seeds only.
Sources: Sunset, UFL, Cal Poly, Stoecklein, UConn, Missouri BG, NCSU, USDA.
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