Pinus contorta

Common Names

Lodgepole Pine, Shore Pine, Beach Pine, Sierra Lodgepole Pine, Tamarack Pine, Coast Pine, Rocky Mountain Lodgepole Pine, Bolander Pine, Black Pine

Summary

Lodgepole pine is a western North American evergreen native from Alaska and the Yukon to Baja California and east to the Black Hills, with coastal shore pine and inland lodgepole forms. It grows as a medium- to large-sized tree with a twisted, contorted trunk and a broad crown; needles occur in bundles of two and are 1.5–3 inches long, cones are egg-shaped and small, and bark is thin and scaly; cones may open at maturity or remain closed for years, reflecting variation in serotiny.

For cultivation, it tolerates full sun and a wide range of soils, including poor or dry sites, and regeneration is prolific after-fire events; propagation is by seed from cones, with seeds maturing in September–October and germinating in roughly 30–50 days, and stored seeds viable for up to 17 years; uses include timber, posts, landscaping, windbreaks, and habitat for wildlife.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

20-100 ft

Spread

20-50 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 4a-8b

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun.

Soil Type

Well-drained to excessively drained soils

Soil Drainage

Moist, well-drained soils.

Soil pH

4.5-7.5

Bloom Color

Reddish purple (female flowers), pale yellow to yellowish orange (male flowers)

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Green to yellow-green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen needle

Growth Rate

Fast-growing, juvenile growth about 1–2 ft/year, mature growth about 0.5–1 ft/year

Seasons of Interest

Spring

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Layering

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and birds