[2] In San Luis Obispo County it is found alone or in stands scattered on the coastal mountains and hills from Morro Bay to Shell Beach.

The cones remain unopened for many years until fire or strong heat causes them to open and release the seeds.

Experimental attempts to hybridize the two forms have consistently failed, indicating that their taxonomic relationship may be more distant than the very small differences in appearance would suggest.

There are also a number of common understory flora associates including sword fern, salal and western poison oak.

Pinus muricata has been used in plantations with resultant growth rates higher than in the wild, but with adverse impacts to biodiversity.