Limber Pine
 

Mature Size, Growth, Longevity

Average mature size of 30-50' tall and 15-35' wide. Can grow to over 60' tall in the wild. Slow growth rate, averaging 6" per year, 6-12' in a 10-year period. Long lived, 200-300 years.

Native Range

U.S. Native — Native to Rocky Mountains of western North America, Alberta to northern Mexico, east to Texas. Introduced 1861.

Flower and Fruit Details

Monoecious flowers, male clustered and rose colored, female purplish, late June through mid July. Fruits in sub-terminal, cylindrical ovoid cones, 3-6" long, 1.5-2.25" wide, erect when young and pendulously spreading when mature, light tan brown, scales resinous, mid August-late October.

Leaf and Bark Features

Evergreen: Needles 2.5-3" long, curving or slightly twisted, in bundles of 5s, attractive all season, dark bluish-green. Holds up well through the winter. Needles crowded or tufted at the ends of the branches. Bark is smooth, light gray or greenish-gray when young. Old trunks become grayish-brown, separated by deep fissures into plates or blocks that are rectangular to nearly square, superficially scaled.

Culture and Care

Likes sun/light shade. Tolerates drought & clay, but prefers moist, acid (pH 4.6-6.5), well-drained soil. Avoid compaction. Adapted for planting on rocky slopes. Resistant to cold, wind, winter burn, de-icing salt, lightning, and air pollution. Zones 4-7. White pine blister rust may be a problem in some states. Fewer diseases than Austrian or Scotch Pines.

Strengths, Weaknesses, Other Facts

Holds a good, dark blue-green needle color through the winter. An easy to grow, very adaptable species and one of the best for the East & Midwest. Good wildlife value. 4-season interest: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter. Won't tolerate heavy shade, poorly-drained sites, or soil compaction. Young branches are tough and very flexible. Wildlife value is very high, attracting songbirds, upland ground birds, small mammals, hoofed browsers.

Suggested Uses

Makes a beautiful specimen tree.

Taxa and Plants of this Species at BCA