Pinus flexilis

• BOTANICAL NAME: Pinus flexilis
• PRONUNCIATION: PI-nus FLEX-i-lis
• COMMON NAME: Limber pine
• FAMILY: Pinaceae
• NATIVITY: Alberta, Canada, south to the Rocky Mountains in Colorado.
• GROWTH HABIT: Small to medium sized tree.
• SIZE: Typically 30 - 45' in cultivation, to 70' in native habitat.
• HARDINESS: Zone 4 - 7.
• CULTURE: Full sun in well drained soil. Grows best in moist soil.
• LANDSCAPE USE: Small to medium sized specimen tree for confined areas. May be used in mass in larger areas.
• FOLIAGE: Needles in bundles of five, 2.5 - 3.5" long, stiff. Needles are
  bunched at the tip of the branches, with needles pointing forward or clasping the stem.
• BUDS: 3/8" long, ovoid in shape.
• BARK: Dark gray, developing fissures with maturity.
• FRUIT: Cone, ovoid, 3 - 6" long, 1 1/2" wide.
• PROPAGATION: Seeds, cultivars are all grafted.
• PESTS: None serious.
• CULTIVARS:
  • `Glauca' - foliage more blue than the species.
  • `Glauca Pendula' - a weeping, blue foliage form. Can be used as a groundcover.
  • `Vandewolf's Pyramid' - potentially the best of the blue foliage forms with
    a denser, more uniform habit.