[Bon of Babble]

They were brought into California from Australia as wind breaks - and someone thought they’d be good for railroad ties b/c they grow very quickly - but the wood is far too soft and the tree twists as it grows.

They have shallow roots and fall over during our high winds - they also exacerbate wildfires.

No, they are not suited for Southern California.

But I love mine - they smell wonderful and provide a lot of shade.

[woodbutcher1963]

That sounds similar to Radiata Pine. Which was originally native to California. They brought Radiata to Chile, Uruguay and New Zealand and planted forests of it. It is now the largest export species for those countries. A lot of it goes into wooden moldings and mill work. It competes with Ponderosa Pine for window and door parts in the USA.