Limber Pine

The limber pine is a native of the American West, especially the Rocky Mountains. It is small and slow-growing, and can live for a very long time. The limber pine can grow under some of the most extreme conditions: places with poor soil, intense wind, or very arid climates. It can also live to be over 1,000 years old in the right conditions. Its tolerance and longevity make the limber pine important in reforestation, and it's also especially useful to scientists interested in tree-ring dating at archaeological and paleontological excavation sites. You can find limber pine in the Park's Arthur Ross Pinetum.

  • Leaves

    2.5-3.5 inches long, dark bluish-green, needles in fives and slightly curved or twisted, persisting five to six years

  • Fruit

    3-6 inches long, resinous, light brown cones, appear fat and hefty

  • Flower

    Male flowers clustered, female flowers solitary or in twos or threes

  • Bark

    Smooth when young, greenish gray; older bark is rough, blocky and scaly, dark gray

Where to find the Limber Pine

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