Rocky Mountain Lodgepole Pine Pinus contorta var. latifolia
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- PY-nus con-TOR-tah var. la-ti-FO-lee-ah
- Description
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Lodgepole Pine is a large columnar needled evergreen tree native to the western U.S.A. and Canada from Alaska south and east to SD, UT and CO. The seed cones often stay closed but open after a fire to reforest an area.
This tree prefers moist to dry well-drained loams in full sun.
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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- 'Chief Joseph'
Semi-dwarf
- 'Chief Joseph'
- 'Chief Joseph'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Chief Joseph'
Semi-dwarf
- 'Chief Joseph'
- 'Chief Joseph'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Pinus
- Species:
- contorta
- Family:
- Pinaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Native Americans used the tree for supports for teepees, lodges and other buildings.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Western USA and Canada
- Distribution:
- AK , CO , ID , MT , OR , SD , UT , WA , WY Canada: AB , BC , NT , SK , YT
- 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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Columnar
- Erect
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Appendage:
- Spines
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- 1-2 inch egg-shaped cones are armed with deciduous prickles. They are stalkless, or nearly so, and frequently point back toward the base of the branch.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The 1.5- 2.5 inches long green to yellow-green needles occur 2 per fascicle and are commonly twisted. They persist 4-8 years with a persistent sheath.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Red/Burgundy
- Bark Description:
- Dark gray to reddish-brown thin bark in loose plates
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Nighttime Garden
- Winter Garden
- Attracts:
- Moths
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
