Rocky Mountain Bristlecone PinePinus aristataHeight: 30' average mature height Zones: 4-8 Find my zone Aspect: partial shade to full sun Watering: needs occasional summer irrigation, about one deep watering cycle per month once established Maximum Water: needs fairly well drained soil Habit: single stem or trunk Foliage: evergreen
This plant can't be shipped to California, Hawaii, Montana
Size Availability
Out of season.
4 to 6 inch seedling - 3 years old - $7.50 each 8 to 12 inch seedling - 4 years old - $9.97 each
Our main crop of most plants is available starting in late fall.
Additional batches of plugs and quarts are added throughout the year.
Many of our plants are propagated in limited quantities and can sell out quickly when posted, get on the notification list below so you don't miss out. Add your email to be notified as soon as we have them back in stock:
This does NOT subscribe your email to any mailing lists, our system will only send an inventory notification message.
The Rocky Mountain Bristlecone Pine (
Pinus aristata
) is a short needle conifer and is one of three species of Bristlecone Pine (the other two are
Pinus balfouriana
- the Foxtail Pine, and
Pinus longaeva
- the Great Basin Bristlecone Pine). All three are closely related to each other and are adapted to growing in harsh conditions where no other trees can survive (and therefore have no competition). There is a fourth similar species, the Whitebark Pine (
Pinus albicaulis
) which is more distantly related but grows in similar environments.
Typically these species grow at extremely high elevations on unsheltered ridges where they endure deep snow and high winds through the winter, which prevents these trees from growing very tall. The form of each individual tree will vary depending on its growing site; although trees planted in sheltered locations will have a dense Christmas tree shape, those growing on exposed mountaintops often look more like gnarled bushes.
Because the tops of the trees often get broken off in winter storms, these trees have developed persistent clumps of active buds that remain for decades near the base of the tree and at the base of most of the branches. If the main trunk breaks off, the tree will still have many buds all along its stem to produce new trunks. Coupled with the tight clumps of short needles, the branching pattern makes this one of the best pine species for bonsai use. Trees can easily be shaped into an ancient-looking gnarled tree with thick, twisted branches that mirrors a mature tree.
Bristlecone Pines are extremely long-lived and an individual tree can survive for thousands of years. In fact, the oldest living tree in North America is a Great Basin Bristlecone Pine in California that is over 4,700 years old. The average life expectancy for any of the Bristlecone species seems to be around 2,000-3,000 years, depending on the growing location.
When growing any of the Bristlecone species in cultivation, it is important not to overwater them. They naturally grow in steep, rocky soils that are free draining and don't tolerate constantly wet soil throughout the summer. If you have compact soil like clay or silt then we recommend planting on the top of a raised mound 2-3' high and 3-4' wide to provide drainage. Avoid fertilizing with fast-releasing fertilizers like manure or Miracle Grow because the roots burn easily.
Osmocote is a slow release fertilizer that is suitable for low-nitrogen using plants like Bristlecone Pines.
We apply half the recommended dose of Osmocote every April with good results.
Bristlecone Pines
There are three true Bristlecone Pine species, the Great Basin Bristlecone, Rocky Mountain Bristlecone, and Foxtail pines as well as two other more distantly related species: Whitebark and Limber Pines. All five of these species are typically found at extreme elevations where they are tough, long-lived trees that grow slowly into impressive gnarled specimens in locations where no other trees can survive. These trees can survive for thousands of years under harsh mountaintop conditions and all five species have at least one individual that is estimated to be over 3,000 years old. However, despite their longevity under such harsh conditions, these types of trees can be difficult to grow in lowland conditions where high heat and humidity, as well as nutrient-rich and moist soils, are unfamiliar and unwelcome.
The only species that seems easy to grow in landscapes is the
Limber Pine
as it seems to be much more adaptive to heat and soils that aren't made entirely of deep gravel and boulders. When growing the other species in containers (such as for bonsai), we recommend growing them in a mixture that is primarily made up of volcanic pumice or perlite. This material is free draining but holds onto more moisture than pure gravel. However, the trees will still need to be watered somewhat frequently to prevent the roots from drying out entirely since these trees are used to having their roots 30-100 feet deep.
The needles are spotted like they are covered in snowflakes all year. Up close you can see the spots are white resin patches.
Source:
Commons
.
A bristlecone growing where it gets windswept and buried under heavy snow grows like a shrub.
Source:
Commons
.
Bristlecone trees get their most unusual shape when growing on ridgetops where 100mph winds break off their growing tips. These trees are well adapted to growing on ridges where there is no competition from other trees.
Source:
Commons
.
Packing Plants For ShippingWe pack our plants depending on the needs of each species and size, most plants ship best with the roots packed in moist sawdust or bark fines but some species don't like root disturbance and are shipped in a soil-less growing media. Excess soil is washed from the roots in preparation for shipping (18-24" White Pines)  Plants are bundled together to fit in boxes  Bundles of plants are secured in long boxes. Plant Sizes 3 gallon Dawn Redwood  Standard quart shrub  Standard 14-18" multi-stem tree size  Standard deep plug pine tree Bamboo Plants Are Shipped In Their ContainersBamboo roots are not flexible and so plants have to be shipped in their containers. These plants are heavier and are shipped separately from bare root plants. Because they are potted they can handle longer transit times so can ship via UPS Ground instead of USPS Air Mail. Potted plants can also be shipped year-round.We regularly top our 1 gallon bamboo plants at 24-30 inches tall throughout the growing season. This results in dense, bushy foliage while allowing for economical shipping. From this size most running species will grow to 5-6 feet tall in the first spring and clumping species will usually grow to 4-5 feet tall.  1 gallon bamboo plants strapped in and ready to be sealed. Unpacking Bare Root PlantsYou will be sent tracking details as soon as your plants are shipped. Unpack your plants as quickly as possible after they are delivered. We use two types of boxes, side-sealing and top-sealing. For boxes that are taped along the whole length you can cut the tape on either side and remove the plant bundles by cutting the tape holding the bundle to the bottom. For boxes that are sealed on the top and bottom, it is easiet to open the bottom of the box (the shipping label is at the top) and pull the bundle of plants out straight out. Check that the box is empty as there can be a second bundle of plants stuck towards the top. A bundle of trees. What if I am not able to plant right away?You can usually leave the plants in their shipping container unopened for 1-2 days if there were no shipping delays and you have received your plants from late November through February. Plants shipped when it is warmer can't stay in their packages for as long.For longer term storage of plants you can pot them up or plant them in rows close together temporarily and then pull them out later in the spring to be planted again. This keeps the roots moist while allowing for air flow to the tops. The roots should have good contact with the soil to ensure they have access to adequate moisture. |
Size Availability
Out of season.
4 to 6 inch seedling - 3 years old - $7.50 each 8 to 12 inch seedling - 4 years old - $9.97 each
Our main crop of most plants is available starting in late fall.
Additional batches of plugs and quarts are added throughout the year.
Many of our plants are propagated in limited quantities and can sell out quickly when posted, get on the notification list below so you don't miss out. Add your email to be notified as soon as we have them back in stock:
This does NOT subscribe your email to any mailing lists, our system will only send an inventory notification message.
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Red Panda Nursery
