Limbertwig Pine Pinus flexilis
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- PY-nus FLEKS-il-iss
- Description
-
Typically a dense pyramid when young, becoming more open with age. Its needles live for 5 to 6 years. It grows best in moist, well-drained soil, but is very adaptable to other situations. When young, it is easy to transplant, however with age forms a large taproot. It is a long-lived good shade tree. Its young shoots can be bent without breaking. The branches are flexible, not prone to storm damage.
It is susceptible to white pine blister rust, a bark disease that is usually fatal.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Extra Blue'
More intense blue color and fast growing - 'Glauca'
More vivid blue-green needles - 'Glauca Pendula'
Wise spread irrigular shrub, tends to sprawl. - 'Vanderwolf's Pyramid'
Upright form, more rapid growth
- 'Extra Blue'
- 'Extra Blue', 'Glauca', 'Glauca Pendula', 'Vanderwolf's Pyramid'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Extra Blue'
More intense blue color and fast growing - 'Glauca'
More vivid blue-green needles - 'Glauca Pendula'
Wise spread irrigular shrub, tends to sprawl. - 'Vanderwolf's Pyramid'
Upright form, more rapid growth
- 'Extra Blue'
- 'Extra Blue', 'Glauca', 'Glauca Pendula', 'Vanderwolf's Pyramid'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Pinus
- Species:
- flexilis
- Family:
- Pinaceae
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southwest Canada to western US
- 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. Birds, browsers, and small mammals consume the seeds.
- Edibility:
- Edible fruit
- Dimensions:
- Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 35 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Pyramidal
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- more than 60 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4b, 4a, 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Erect cones when young, turn light brown.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- White
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Dark bluish-green needles in bundles of 5. All side have 3 to 4 white lines. Sharp-pointed.
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-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Ridges
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Light gray, nearly smooth, becoming dark brown and cross-checkered with age into scaly plates and ridges.
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-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Tough, smooth and flexible.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Recreational Play Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Screen/Privacy
- Shade Tree
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
