Typically a dense pyramid when young, becoming more open with age. Its needles live for 5 to 6 years. It grows best in moist, well-drained soil, but is very adaptable to other situations. When young, it is easy to transplant, however with age forms a large taproot. It is a long-lived good shade tree. Its young shoots can be bent without breaking. The branches are flexible, not as prone to storm damage as other pines. Insect, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This tree is susceptible to wind damage, though somewhat resistant. It is susceptible to white pine blister rust, a bark disease that is usually fatal. More information on Pinus .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
Available space
more than 60 feet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in. | Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 35 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Pyramidal
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Needled Evergreen
Leaf color
Blue; Green; White
Leaf type
Needles; Simple
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Dark bluish-green needles in bundles of 5. All side have 3 to 4 white lines. Sharp-pointed.
Flower color
Brown/Copper
Flower value
Edible
Flower size
3-6 inches
Flower detail
Erect cones when young, turn light brown.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Light Gray
Bark detail
Light gray, nearly smooth, becoming dark brown and cross-checkered with age into scaly plates and ridges.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Tough, smooth and flexible.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Southwest Canada to western US
Wildlife value
This plant supports Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed. Birds, browsers, and small mammals consume the seeds.
Attracts
Moths; Small Mammals; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Edibility
Edible fruit
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Meadow; Naturalized Area; Recreational Play Area; Woodland