The natural occurrence of the Torrey pine is limited to a small area of the San Diego coast and to Santa Rosa Island of Southern California. In these arid areas, it varies from a semi - pros-trate shrub to a small, heavily branched tree, 10 - 16 m in height. In wetter areas of New Zealand (1250 mm average annual rainfall), it has attained heights of over 30 m in 35 years and is moderate to fast growing. It prefers moderately fertile, sandy loams, but will grow on a wide range of soils except heavy clays or saline soils. It is frost hardy to - 1loC.
The large edible seed is eaten raw or roasted. It produces seed somewhat irregularly (4-5 year intervals for good crops). It is a good timber species. It will not tolerate bare - rooted planting.