Habitat

• zone 4 to 7
• Rocky Mountains of Western U.S.

Habit and Form

• evergreen needle conifer
• 30 to 50' medium-sized tree
• about half as wide as tall
• dense, pyramidal when young
• when mature, develops as flat-topped broad crown ascending

Summer Foliage

• needles in 5's
• needles 2.5 to 3.5" long, dark bluish-green
• needles slightly curved or twisted
• persisting 5 to 6 years; branches often covered with needles from tip to trunk

Autumn Foliage

• same as summer foliage

Flowers

• monoecious
• male flowers clustered
• female flowers solitary or in 2's or 3's

Fruit

• 3 to 6" long, resinous, light brown cones
• appear fat and hefty

Bark

• young bark is smooth, greenish gray
• older bark is rough, blocky and scaly
• older bark is dark gray

Culture

• best in full sun
• more tolerant of salt spray on the foliage than other 5-needle pines
• said to be better adapted to dry soils and wind than P. strobus
• prefers moist, well-drained soil

Landscape Uses

• specimen
• as a screen
• in small groupings

Liabilities

• slow to medium growth
• relatively trouble free

ID Features

• often confused with Pinus strobus
• needles in 5's
• needles held up to 6 years; needles often tip to trunk on branches
• needles without serrations on margin like Pinus strobus
• stems, although flexible, are noticeably stouter than Pinus strobus
• flexibility of stems NOT a reliable ID feature

Propagation

• cold stratified seed, 1 to 3 months at 35-40^oF
• cultivars grafted

Cultivars/Varieties

'Glauca' - This is an umbrella term for all selections with bluish-green foliage. These are among the most common forms of the species in commerce.

'Glauca Pendula' - This is a prostrate, vigorous plant with bluish needles and spreading habit. It can be allowed to grow as a groundcover or staked up as a small tree.

'Glenmore Dwarf' and 'Nana' - These are both slow-growing, dense bushy forms with short blue-green needles.

'Extra Blue' - This is a standard size selection with very good blue needle color and a pyramidal habit.

'Vanderwolf's Pyramid' - Perhaps the most popular selection at specialty nurseries, this selection grows with a broad, upright pyramidal habit. The needles are a bright blue-green color.