Pinus aristata
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- PY-nus a-ris-TAH-tuh
- Description
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One of the oldest trees on earth, this tree is a dwarf, shrubby but picturesque specimen with an irregular (rounded, flattened) spread when young and retains these characteristics as it matures. Its tapering, twisted trunk is up to 3 feet in diameter. Its blue-green needles are aromatic and covered with a resinous fluid.
It will grow in a variety of soil types including dry, infertile or rocky. You may want to protect from drying winds.
This species has both pollen cones and seed cones. The blueish-red pollen cones are a somewhat rounded shape (not perfectly round). The seed cones mature on trees after approximately 2 years and fall to the ground. Before opening, they are a cylindric shape, becoming a purple to brown colored egg-shaped with a triangular base after opening. The grey-brown to black seeds are an elongated egg shape.
Insect, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This tree is susceptible to wind damage.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Blue Bear'
Extremely thickly branched. Blueish green coloring. Growth rate of 4 - 6” per year - 'Blue Heron'
Blue-green foliage - 'Cecilia'
Dwarf, dense, rounded - 'Formal Form'
Narrow upright form, bluish green foliage, 1 1/2" long needles grow in bundles of five. - 'Joe's Bess'
Dwarf habit, broad upright form, bluish green foliage, uniform shape - 'Lemon Frost'
Gold to yellow-green foliage - 'Sherwood Compact'
Dwarf form, rounded form with short needles
- 'Blue Bear'
- 'Blue Bear', 'Blue Heron', 'Cecilia', 'Formal Form', 'Joe's Bess', 'Lemon Frost', 'Sherwood Compact'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Blue Bear'
Extremely thickly branched. Blueish green coloring. Growth rate of 4 - 6” per year - 'Blue Heron'
Blue-green foliage - 'Cecilia'
Dwarf, dense, rounded - 'Formal Form'
Narrow upright form, bluish green foliage, 1 1/2" long needles grow in bundles of five. - 'Joe's Bess'
Dwarf habit, broad upright form, bluish green foliage, uniform shape - 'Lemon Frost'
Gold to yellow-green foliage - 'Sherwood Compact'
Dwarf form, rounded form with short needles
- 'Blue Bear'
- 'Blue Bear', 'Blue Heron', 'Cecilia', 'Formal Form', 'Joe's Bess', 'Lemon Frost', 'Sherwood Compact'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Pinus
- Species:
- aristata
- Family:
- Pinaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southwestern USA
- Fire Risk Rating:
- high flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- This plant supports Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Oval
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Texture:
- Medium
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-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Inconspicuous, thorn-like appearance
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Buds are ovoid-shaped, inconspicuous
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- White
- Leaf Feel:
- Prickly
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 1 to 1.7 in. bluish-green needles in bundles of 5, often dotted with white resin.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Red/Burgundy
- Bark Description:
- Gray to red-brown bark is shallowly fissured with long, flat irregular ridges.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Recreational Play Area
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Nighttime Garden
- Rock Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Foundation Planting
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
