| Common Name |
Lodgepole Pine |
| Latin Name |
Pinus contorta |
| Family |
Pinaceae |
| Sunset zones / USDA zones |
|
| Type / Form |
Tree / Large |
| Native Habitat |
Slopes of mountains of western U. S. and Canada from 3,000 to
8,000 feet |
| Soil |
Dry to moist, decomposed granite, sand, clay loam,
limestone, low to some organic content, well drained |
| Water |
Once to twice per month depending on soil in hot weather |
| Exposure |
Full sun |
| Height X Width |
To 40 feet X 15 feet , 150 feet tall unusual |
| Protective Mechanism |
None |
| Leaves |
Evergreen needles, 1 1/2 to 3 inches long
in fascicles of two, twisted, fascicle sheath present; yellow-green to
green. |
| Flowers |
Monoecious; males are yellow, cylindrical and
clustered at branch tips; females reddish purple at branch tips in the
upper crown.
Woody
cone, 1 to 2 inches long, often asymmetrical and becoming lumpy near the
base, apophysis armed with a short spine; light brown to brown; may
remain closed for several years. |
| Bark / Roots |
Thin, typically grayish brown
but can be very dark with many small close scales.
Orange-brown, turning darker
with age, needles are persistent for several years; buds are narrowly
ovoid, reddish brown and resinous. |
| Maintenance |
Low |
| Propagation |
Seed (Commerially available seed recommended) |
| Rests and diseases |
The mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae)
is the most severe insect pest. Another aggressive bark beetle
that attacks lodgepole pine is the pine engraver (Ips pini). Also
the lodgepole terminal weevil (Pissodes terminalis), larvae of
the Warren's collar weevil (Hylobius warreni), larvae of the
weevil Magdalis gentilis, which mine branches; various sucking
insects, such as the pine needle scale (Chionaspis pinifoliae),
the black pineleaf scale (Nuculaspis californica), and the spruce
spider mite (Oligonychus ununguis); and several defoliating
insects, among which are the lodgepole sawfly (Neodiprion burkei),
the lodgepole needle miner (Coleotechnites milleri), the
sugar pine tortrix (Choristoneura lambertiana), the pine tube
moth (Argyrotaenia pinatubana), and the pandora moth (Coloradia
pandora). Dwarf mistletoe (particularly Arceuthobium
americanum) is the most widespread and serious parasite affecting
lodgepole pine. |
| Landscape uses |
Erosion control, low maintenance, background |
| Garden Suitability |
Thornless, Songbird, Fragrant, Mountain |
| Ornamental Value |
Dark green needles, slender conical shape |
| Nature Value |
Nuts eaten by squirrels |
| Native American Uses |
Nuts eaten raw or baked, long needles used to make pine
needle baskets, lodge poles (tipi poles) |
| Links |
|
| Image |
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/img_query?special=calflora&where-taxon=Pinus+contorta+ssp.+murrayana&where-anno=1 |
| Images and data |
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lodgepole_Pine |
| Images and data |
http://extension.usu.edu/range/woody/lodgepolepine.htm |
| Images and data |
http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/pinconl/all.html |
| Images and data |
http://forestry.about.com/library/silvics/blsilpincon.htm |
| Images and data |
http://www.thegrowspot.com/know/f7/all-about-lodgepole-pine-pinus-contorta-38302.html |
| Images and data |
http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/pico.htm |
| Images and data |
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?where-genre=Plant&where-taxon=Pinus+contorta |
| Images and data |
http://www.cnr.vt.edu/DENDRO/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=177 |
| Images and data |
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=PICO |
| Images and data |
http://www.conifers.org/pi/pin/contorta.htm |
| Nursery, images and data |
http://www.cnplx.info/nplx/species?taxon=Pinus+contorta |
| Nursery |
Oak Hills Nursery, 13874 Ranchero Road, Oak Hills, 92345,
760-947-6261 |
| Distribution map |
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=PICO |
| Note: |
Moderate pollinator and high
fuel factor = fire danger |
