Botanical name: Pinus aristata
Family: Pinaceae
Click on images of Bristlecone Pine to enlarge.
A.K.A. Rocky Mountains Bristlecone, Colorado Bristlecone
- Native
- Evergreen
- reaches a height of 15′-25′
- irregular crown 12′-15′ in width
- slow growth rate
- Bristlecone pine Pinus aristata is capable of living in the wild for 1,500 – 2,450+ years. (oldest know Pinus longaeva is believed to be over 4,800 years of age).
- Leaves are needle-like 1″-2″ long, grow in fascicles of 5
- A unique identifying characteristic is the white resin that remains on the dark green to blueish green needles.
- monoecious
- Fruit is a cone that appears purple during early development turning yellow or brown as it matures.
- thin cone scales are fragile and have a spine that look like a bristle at the end
- great for small gardens
- full to partial sun
- adaptable to different soil conditions
- tolerant of drought but not of air pollution
- Plant Hardiness Zones 4-7
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- Pine, Bristlecone
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- Pine, Bristlecone
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- Bristlecone Pine Stem
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- Pine, Bristlecone
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- Pine, Bristlecone ~ Leaves
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- bristlecone pine needles
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- bristlecone pine branches