limber pine (Pinus flexilis)

First place champion limber pine in San Isabel National Forest on Medano Pass.

Species info:

Needles: Dark blue-green, in bundles of five, clustered densely at the ends of twigs. Each needle 2–3 inches long, soft, and flexible. Twigs are extremely pliable—can literally be tied in a knot (hence the name flexilis).

Leaf Surface: Smooth and glossy; needles often slightly curved.

Bark: Smooth and gray on young trees, becoming scaly and gray to nearly black with age.

Fruit: Oval and stout, 3–6 inches long cones; tan-brown with sticky resin. Produced mid-August to October. Seeds are large and nutritious—an important food source for Clark’s nutcracker, songbirds, and small mammals.

Flowers: Not showy; typical inconspicuous pine reproductive structures.

Botanical: Pinus flexilis

Family: Pinaceae

Mature Height: 30–50 feet

Canopy Spread: 15–35 feet

Foliage Type: Evergreen

Tree Shape: Irregular, open crown with horizontal limbs; “gangly” appearance in the wild, denser in cultivated varieties such as ‘Vanderwolf’.

Growth Rate: Moderate

Water Use: Low; highly drought-tolerant once established

Hardiness: Zone 4-7

Soil Preference: Prefers well-drained, rocky, or sandy soils; intolerant of compacted or poorly drained soils.

Wildlife Value: Seeds are a critical food source for birds and small mammals.

Pests/Pathogens: Can be affected by bark beetles, dwarf mistletoe, and white pine blister rust.

Planting Recommendations: Recommended for most sites along the Front Range

Information Sources:

• Gary Hightshoe, Trees for Conservation. (Colorado State Forest Service, 1996)

• Native Trees, Shrubs, and Vines for Urban and Rural America (1988)