Pinus contorta (PY-nus con-TOR-tah var. la-ti-FO-lee-ah)
Family: PinaceaeNativeUnderstory
UnderstoryNative
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. More information on Pinus contorta .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
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
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
2 - Understory
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Columnar; Erect
Foliage
Needled Evergreen
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Leaf type
Needles
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
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.
Fruit size
1-3 inches long
Fruit detail
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.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Dark Gray; Red/Burgundy
Bark detail
Dark gray to reddish-brown thin bark in loose plates
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
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.
Attracts
Moths; Small Mammals; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Uses (ethnobotany)
Native Americans used the tree for supports for teepees, lodges and other buildings.
Landscape Use
Landscape theme
Nighttime Garden; Winter Garden
Garden tags
#needled evergreen #evergreen #large tree #imperial moth #larval host plant #nighttime garden #full sun tolerant #wind damage prone #wildlife friendly