Woody > Pinus > Pinus longaeva > Pinus longaeva
Pinus longaeva
Great Basin Bristlecone Pine, Western Bristlecone Pine, Intermountain Bristlecone Pine
Origin: Southwestern United States of America in the White Mountains of California and throughout southern Nevada and Utah.
Mike's
Opinion
"
This interesting specimen is known to live over 5,000 years. Its harsh environment causes the plants growth to be very slow thus resulting in the longevity of each specimen.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Pinaceae |
| Genus |
| Pinus |
| Species |
| longaeva |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Tree (evergreen) |
| Synonyms |
| Pinus aristata var. longaeva |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 4a |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 2a - 6b |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H7 - H6 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| (-43) - (-18) |
| Temperature (°F) |
| (-45) - 0 |
| Height |
| 5-15 m |
| Spread |
| 2-8 m |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| An intriguing plant with its ability to live for an astonishingly long period of time. Its slow growth creates an extremely dense wood which aids in its resistance to fire damage, disease, rot, insect and fungal infections. The strong winds endured in its habitat sculpt the trees wood giving it a striking and distinguishable appearance. |
| Landscape |
| Not a common landscape plant as it does not perform well outside of its dry arid natural habitat. |
| Cultivation |
| To achieve a slower growth rate, new growth should be pruned back once a year. This is not mandatory and care should be taken when doing so. |
| Shape |
| Very irregular, odd shape almost bottle-brush like. |
| Growth |
| Slow |
| ID Characteristic |
| Twisting and turning like a stretched and torn piece of clay, the appearance of bristlecone pines can be quite remarkable. The exposed wood is carved like stone by sand and ice being whipped up from harsh weather conditions. A very thick trunk supports a somewhat small but dense canopy. |
| Pests |
| White pine blister rust. |
| Habitat |
| High elevations in the southwestern United States of America. The largest population is in the White Mountains of California. Most populations grow between 1,700 m and 3,500 m above sea level. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| Bark is reddish brown in colour and fades slightly as the tree ages. Young bark is smooth, however develops deep irregular grooves as it matures. |
| Leaf Description |
| Needles approximately 2-4 cm in length, and are rather firm with a sharp point. Found in fasciles of five, some trees can retain their needles for over 20 years. |
| Fruit Description |
| Cones, uniform in shape, 7 cm in length and 3 cm wide with a slight purple hue. |
| Colour Description |
| Red to brown coloured bark, foliage is green to yellow-green (younger needles are lighter in colour than older needles). |
| Texture Description |
| Very rough looking appearance, a rugged plant. |
| Propagation |
| Propagation from seed and grafting. |
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