WSU Clark County Extension
PNW Plants Searchable, categorized images
              

Bristlecone Pine

Scientific name: Pinus aristata
Taxonomy
Family:Pinaceae
Type:Coniferous trees
Native:NO
Plant Requirements
Zone:4 to 7
Sun:Full sun
Moisture:Dry
Plant Characteristics
Height:25 ft
Width:15 ft
Additional Characteristics
Trees


Fruit

Leaves


Bark
Wildlife value

Poisonous
Description Bristlecone pine is famous for its ability to live for thousands of years in the Sierra Mountains of the southwest. Gardeners value its majestic slow growth and dark, bushy form.

  Morphology:
This evergreen grows slowly to a mature height of 20’-30‘ with an eventual width of 15’. In the landscape it takes on a shrubby form, with an irregular shape. It bears its needles in bundles of 5. Needles attain a length of 1”-2” and are bluish green in color. One of their distinguishing features is the presence of tiny pitch droplets which give the needles a frosted appearance.

Cones appear on older trees. The name for this species comes from the slender bristles which appear on the tips of the cones.

  Adaptation:
This is a sun loving conifer that prefers dry rocky sites.

  Pests:
None reported.
For assistance, contact Dr. Charles Brun (brunc@wsu.edu), (360) 397-6060 5701
Computing and Web Resources, PO Box 6234, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164-6234