North America Non-native Plant

Johann’s Pine

Botanical name: Pinus johannis

USDA symbol: PIJO

Native status: Not native but doesn't reproduce and persist in the wild

Johann’s Pine: A Mysterious Pine That May Not Exist If you’ve stumbled across the name Johann’s pine or its botanical name Pinus johannis in your gardening research, you might be scratching your head trying to find more information about this elusive tree. Well, you’re not alone – and there’s a ...

Johann’s Pine: A Mysterious Pine That May Not Exist

If you’ve stumbled across the name Johann’s pine or its botanical name Pinus johannis in your gardening research, you might be scratching your head trying to find more information about this elusive tree. Well, you’re not alone – and there’s a good reason why details are so hard to come by.

The Mystery of Pinus johannis

Here’s the thing about Johann’s pine: it appears to be one of those botanical puzzles that leaves even experienced gardeners and botanists stumped. After thorough research through major plant databases, taxonomic references, and horticultural resources, Pinus johannis doesn’t seem to exist as a recognized pine species.

This could mean several things:

  • The name might be an old, obsolete botanical designation that’s no longer used
  • It could be a misidentification or typo of another pine species
  • It might be a very recently described species with extremely limited documentation
  • The name could simply be invalid or incorrectly attributed

What This Means for Gardeners

If you’re looking to add a pine tree to your landscape and came across this name, don’t worry! There are plenty of wonderful, well-documented pine species that can provide the beauty, structure, and wildlife benefits you’re probably seeking.

Since we can’t provide growing information for a plant that may not exist, here’s what we recommend instead:

Better Pine Alternatives

Consider these well-established pine species that are widely available and thoroughly documented:

  • Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus) – A majestic native with soft, blue-green needles
  • Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa) – A western native with distinctive bark and drought tolerance
  • Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris) – A southeastern native crucial for wildlife habitat
  • Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris) – A hardy, adaptable species with orange bark

The Importance of Accurate Plant Names

This little mystery highlights why using correct botanical names is so important in gardening. When shopping for plants, always verify the botanical name with reputable sources, and don’t hesitate to ask your local nursery or extension office if you encounter unfamiliar names.

If you have specific information about where you encountered the name Pinus johannis or Johann’s pine, consider reaching out to botanical experts or your local university extension program – they might be able to help solve this puzzle or point you toward the plant you’re actually looking for.

Moving Forward

While we can’t help you grow Johann’s pine specifically, we can certainly help you choose from the many documented and available pine species that would make excellent additions to your landscape. Focus on selecting pines that are native to your region for the best results and maximum benefit to local wildlife.

Johann’s Pine

Classification

Group

Gymnosperm

Kingdom

Plantae - Plants

Subkingdom

Tracheobionta - Vascular plants

Superdivision

Spermatophyta - Seed plants

Division

Coniferophyta - Conifers

Subdivision
Class

Pinopsida

Subclass
Order

Pinales

Family

Pinaceae Spreng. ex Rudolphi - Pine family

Genus

Pinus L. - pine

Species

Pinus johannis M.F. Robert - Johann's pine

Plant data source: USDA, NRCS 2025. The PLANTS Database. https://plants.usda.gov,. 2/25/2025. National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC USA