Rocky Mountains Bristlecone Pine

Pinus aristata is a medium-size tree, reaching 5-15 m tall and with a trunk diameter of up to 1.5 m. The bark is grey-brown, thin and scaly at the base of the trunk. The leaves are in fascicles of five, stout, 2.5-4 cm long, deep green to blue-green on the outer face, with stomata confined to a bright white band on the inner surfaces. The cones are ovoid-cylindrical, 5-10 cm long and 3-4 cm broad when closed, purple at first, ripening yellow-buff when 16 months old, with numerous thin, fragile scales, each scale with a bristle-like spine 4-8 mm long.

Pinus aristata is a species of pine native to the United States. It appears in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado and northern New Mexico, with an isolated population in the San Francisco Peaks in Arizona. It is usually found at very high altitudes, from 2500-3700 m, in cold, dry subalpine climate conditions, often at the tree line, although it also forms extensive closed-canopy stands at somewhat lower elevations. More

Pinus aristata is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. See states reporting bristlecone pine (opens a new window). More

Pinus aristata (20 years old) at Laporte Avenue Nursery P.aristata native stand Mt. More