Whitebark Pine Pinus bungeana

The lacebark pine is a slow-growing evergreen conifer that grows 30 to 50 feet tall and 20 to 35 feet wide. Shrubby when young, this tree has picturesque, showy bark that exfoliates or peels in patches, revealing a patchwork of colors of white, olive, light purple, and silver. The patchwork will eventually become a milky white. These features aren't evident until the tree matures.

 Lacebark pine is often multi-stemmed, pyramidal to rounded, and becomes flat-topped with age.  Removing the lower branches will expose the beautiful bark. It has medium to dark green needles that are in bundles of three. If bruised, the needles will give off a turpentine-like scent. This evergreen is a member of the Pinaceae or pine family.

The native range of this tree is Central and Northern China.

The genus name, Pinus, is the Latin name for pines. The species epithet, bungeana, is in honor of a Russian botanist, Alexander von Bunge.

The lacebark pine prefers well-drained soils, full sun, and afternoon shade. It is intolerant to heat and may suffer in planting zones 7 to 8. It may be best to plant this evergreen a little higher in the soil to ensure good drainage. Once established, this plant is drought tolerant, and it is also deer resistant. The trunk may split and the limbs may break in heavy snow and ice due to its multi-trunk habit. As in many multitrunked trees, some molting may occur.  However, training as a single trunk is possible.

The ornamental bark is the showstopper of this species. Patience is required because it will take 10 years before the tree bark begins to exfoliate. It will make an excellent specimen or accent tree in the home landscape, and it needs to be placed where it can be admired throughout the year.

Quick ID Hints:

• evergreen 30 to 50 feet tall and 20 to 25 feet wide
• the bark on young trees is smooth and gray
• exfoliating bark reveals a patchwork of white, olive, light purple, and silver after age 10.
• needles in bundles of 3, medium to dark green, stiff, flat, sharply pointed, measure 2 to 4 inches long, 2 mm wide, and margins finely toothed, faint stomatal lines on the needle surface and the fascicle sheath falls away 
• pollen cones are insignificant
• seed cones are yellowish-brown, ovoid, 1.5 to 2.5 inches long, and 1.5 to 2 inches wide, be solitary or paired either terminally or laterally on the stems on short stalks

Insect, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  The lacebark pine has no serious disease or insect issues.  This tree is susceptible to wind damage.  Snow and ice may break the limbs.

VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy, and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.