Lodgepole Pine

Scientific name

Pinus contorta

Description

The Lodgepole Pine is a slender, widespread coniferous tree species that can grow up to 50 m tall. The bark is gray to reddish brown in colour, thin, and finely scaled. The needles are twisted, yellow green to dark green in colour, about 6 cm long, and appear in bunches of two. Seed cones are cylinder to egg shaped, about three cm long, and grow without stalks. Lodgepole Pine provides valuable food and habitat to wildlife species like birds and small mammals. These Pines develop into large stands after forest fires. Since this species is widespread there may be differences in development based on geographic area. Thus, plants should be purchased from local nurseries to increase chance success.

Planting conditions

Lodgepole Pine grows best in moist to normal conditions with full to partial sun exposure. It can grow in a variety of soil types with normal to slightly acidic pH levels. It is intolerant of shade, heavy metals, salinity, and calcareous soil. This tree can be found naturally in a range of environments from sandy shorelines, to dry mountains, to acidic bogs.

Details

• Plant height:
  • Any
  • Over 3m
• Moisture level:
  • Dry
  • Normal
  • Moist
• Light conditions:
  • Full sun
• Soil type:
  • Sandy
  • Loamy
  • Rocky
• pH:
  • Acidic
  • Normal
• Depth:
  • Potted
• Eco Zone:
  • 0b
  • 1a
  • 1b
  • 2a
  • 2b
  • 3a
  • 3b
  • 4a
  • 4b
  • 5a
  • 5b
  • 6a
  • 6b
• Plant type:
  • Tree
• Height:
  • 50 m
• Spread:
  • 3 m