Pinus aristata
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- PY-nus a-ris-TAH-tuh
- Description
-
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.
Insect, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This tree is susceptible to wind damage. Watch for bark beetles, aphids and needle scale. Diseases include white pine blister rust and dwarf mistletoe. See pests of conifers to the left.
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- 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:
- 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.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Oval
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
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
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Inconspicuous, thorn-like appearance
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Buds are ovoid-shaped, inconspicuous
-
-
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.
-
-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Red/Burgundy
- Bark Description:
- Gray to red-brown bark is shallowly fissured with long, flat irregular ridges.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
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
