This page includes brief descriptions and representative photos of the 9 species of five needle pine that occur in western North America. Click on a species to jump to the description.
Pinus albicaulis (Whitebark pine)
Pinus aristata (Rocky Mountain Bristlecone Pine)
Pinus balfouriana (Foxtail Pine)
Pinus flexilis (Limber pine)
Pinus lambertiana (Sugar Pine)
Pinus longaeva (Great Basin bristlecone pine)
Pinus monticola (Western white Pine)
Pinus strobiformis (Southwestern white pine)
Pinus torreyana (Torrey Pine)
In the below descriptions, elevation and geographic ranges, morphological characteristics, and habitats are from Kral (2022) and USFS (2022). Many of the photos are from iNaturalist and are Creative Commons Attribution licensed. Credits are provided in photo captions.
Pinus albicaulis
Common name: Whitebark Pine
Habitat: Upper montane and subalpine areas to tree line. This species often occurs on exposed slope positions, summits, and ridges. Across its full geographic range this species occurs at elevations ranging from 1,300-3,700 m (4,265-12,139 ft).
Range: Alberta, British Columbia, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming.
National/International
– Canada: Endangered (Species at Risk Act)
– IUCN: Endangered (Red List Assessment)
– United States: Threatened (Endangered Species Act)
States/Provinces with S1, S2, or S3 rankings (NatureServe)
– Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming
Description: A comprehensive description for the species is provided by the Flora of North America
Tips for Identification of Whitebark Pine: Look for bright scarlet pollen cones and purplish immature seed cones, and mature cones that are about the size of a tennis ball (4-8 cm [2-4 in] long). Mature cones are rarely intact on or under trees as they are pulled apart readily by birds. Look closely under trees for cone parts, including partially disintegrated cones and/or cone scales. Whitebark pine is most similar to limber pine (P. flexilis) and, where the ranges of the 2 species overlap, they can co-occur on the same site. Both species have a similar growth habit and overlap in their preferred habitat. One difference is the color of the immature seed cones, dark gray to purplish for whitebark pine, and greenish for limber pine.
Also, the persistence of the seed cone scales differs between the 2 species. Limber pine has persistent, spreading scales, whereas the seed cone scales of whitebark pine are non-persistent, having thin bases that are easily broken off by seed predators. A general rule of thumb is, that if you are attempting to distinguish between these 2 species in the field, if you readily see intact seed cones at the base of a mature tree, then it’s likely to be limber pine. If you don’t readily seed intact seed cones under the tree, or instead find only cone parts (e.g., cone scales), then it’s likely whitebark pine. See the photos below for examples of whitebark pine.
Representative Photos of Whitebark Pine (Pinus albicaulis)
Pinus aristata
Common name: Rocky Mountain Bristlecone Pine
Habitat: This species occurs in the upper montane and subalpine zone. This species occurs at elevations ranging from 2,500-3,400 m (8,202-11,155 ft).
Range: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico
Description: A comprehensive description and illustration for the species is provided by the Flora of North America and the Fire Effects Information System
Tips for Identification of Rocky Mountain Bristlecone Pine:
Look for trees to 15 m (~50 ft) tall with trunks up to 1 m in diameter that are strongly tapering, and frequently twisted; the crown shape ranges from rounded to irregular, and are often gnarled, twisted, or flattened by the elements. The needles are characteristically strongly up-curved, and the branches often have bottle brush appearance. The seed cones are cylindric when open, 6–11cm (2.4–4.3 in) long, and purple to brown; the apophyses are much thickened, the umbo is central and is armed with a slender, brittle prickle that is 6–10 mm (1/4–2/3 in) long.
Rocky Mountain Bristlecone Pine is most similar to Great Basin Bristlecone Pine (P . longaeva) and Foxtail Pine (P . balfouriana). However, the known ranges of Great Basin Bristlecone Pine and Foxtail Pine don’t overlap with Rocky Mountain Bristlecone Pine. The primary morphological differences are 1) the leaves of Rocky Mountain Bristlecone Pine are strongly grooved on the lower surface, while the leaves of the other 2 species are ungrooved or, if grooved, the grooves several and indistinct, and 2) the prickles on maturer seed cones of Rocky Mountain Bristlecone Pine are relatively long (6–10 mm), whereas in the other 2 species the prickles arer shorter (< 6 mm) or absent.
Representative Photos of Rocky Mountain Bristlecone Pine (Pinus aristata)
Pinus balfouriana
Common name: Foxtail Pine
Habitat: This species occurs in upper montane, subalpine, and timberline areas. This species occurs at elevations ranging from 1500–3500 m (4,921–11,483 ft).
Taxonomy: Two subspecies of foxtail pine are recognized: Southern foxtail pine (Pinus balfouriana subsp. austrina) and Northern foxtail pine (Pinus balfouriana subsp. balfouriana).
Range: Foxtail pine occurs only in California, and the 2 subspecies have distinctly different geographic ranges. Southern foxtail pine occurs in the high southern Sierra Nevada Mountains of Fresno, Tulare, and Inyo counties. Northern foxtail pine occurs in the high North Coast and Klamath ranges in Siskiyou, Trinity, Shasta, and Tehama counties.
Description: A comprehensive description and illustration for the species is provided by the Flora of North America and the Fire Effects Information System
Tips for Identification of Foxtail Pine:
Look for trees to 22 m (72 ft) tall with trunks up to 2.6 m (8.5 ft) in diameter. The crowns range from broadly conic to irregular, and may be leaning in the direction of the prevailing winds on more exposed site. The bark ranges in color from gray to salmon or cinnamon, and is platy or irregularly deep-fissured or with irregular blocky plates. The needles are characteristically strongly up-curved, and the branches often have bottle brush appearance. The seed cones are lance-cylindric with conic base before opening, 6–9 cm (2.4–3.5 in) long (occasionally to 11 cm [4.3 in]) and round to cylindric when mature.
The apophyses are much thickened, rounded, larger toward cone base; and the is umbo central, usually depressed, and prickles are absent or weak, to 1 mm (1/16 in).
Foxtail pine is most similar to Great Basin Bristlecone Pine (P. longaeva) and Rocky Mountain Bristlecone Pine (P . aristata). However, the known ranges of these 3 species do not overlap. Great Basin Bristlecone Pine occurs in California, Nevada, and Utah, while Rocky Mountain Bristlecone Pine occurs in Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. Foxtail pine occurs only in California and has 2 subspecies with distinct ranges that don’t overlap with Great Basin Bristlecone Pine.
The primary morphological differences between the 3 species are 1) the leaves of Rocky Mountain Bristlecone Pine are strongly grooved on the lower surface, while the leaves of the other 2 species are ungrooved or, if grooved, the grooves are several and indistinct, and 2) the prickles on mature seed cones of Rocky Mountain Bristlecone Pine are relatively long (6–10 mm), whereas in the other 2 species the prickles are shorter (< 6 mm) or absent.
Representative Photos of Pinus baulfouriana
Pinus flexilis
Common name: Limber Pine
Habitat: Upper montane and subalpine areas. This species often occurs on exposed slope positions, summits, and ridges. This species is tolerant of soils derived from calcareous parent materials, but also occurs on soils from a variety of substrates. Across its full geographic range this species occurs at elevations ranging from 1,000-3,600 m (3,280-11,811 ft).
Range: Alberta, Arizona, British Columbia, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming
Conservation Status:
National/International
– Canada: None
– IUCN: Least Concern (Red List Assessment)
– United States: None
States/Provinces with S1, S2, or S3 rankings (NatureServe)
– Alberta, British Columbia, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota
Description: A comprehensive description for the species is provided by the Flora of North America
Tips for Identification of Limber Pine:
Look for a much-branched trunk; gray, nearly smooth bark that becomes cross-checked with age; bright green immature seed cones that are 7–15 cm (3–6 in) long; and intact cones on the ground below the tree. Limber pine is somewhat similar to southwestern white pine (P. strobiformis). However, the range of these 2 species overlap only in Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. Where they overlap the 2 species are distinguished by the apophyses of mature seed cone scales, which are recurved in southwestern white pine and not recurved in limber pine. Also the bark on the trunks of mature southwestern white pines is thick, furrowed, whereas the bark
on the trunk of mature limber pines is thin, and platy. Limber pine is also similar to whitebark pine (P. albicaulis) and, where the ranges of the 2 species overlap, they can co-occur on the same site. Both species have a similar growth habit and overlap in their preferred habitat. One difference is the color of the immature cones, dark gray to purplish for whitebark pine, and greenish for limber pine. Also, limber pine has persistent seed cone scales, while whitebark pine has non-persistent scales. See the description for whitebark pine for more details.
Representative photos of Pinus flexilis
Pinus lambertiana
Common name: Sugar pine
Habitat: This species occurs at a wide elevations range from 330–3200m (1,083–10,500 ft). It occurs near sea level in the Coast Ranges of California and Oregon, to more than 10,000 feet (3,000 m) in the Transverse Range in southern California. However, sugar pine is most commonly found and is most productive at middle elevations in deep soils on sheltered slope positions.
Range: California, Nevada, Oregon; Mexico.
Description: Comprehensive descriptions for the species are provided by the Flora of North America and the Fire Effects Information System.
Tips for Identification of Sugar Pine: This species can grow to 75 m (246 m) tall and typically has a straight stem, and a narrow, cone-shaped crown. The upper branches of mature seed code bearing trees are often bending downward under the weight of the cones which, when nearing maturity, can weigh 1–2 kg (~2–4 lbs) each. Mature seed cones have persistent scales and terminal umbos, and are >25 cm (10 in) long. Sugar pine is similar to western white pine (P. monticola). The primary difference between the 2 being the length of mature seed cones; 15–25 cm (6–10 in) for western white pine and >25 cm for sugar pine. Also, the geographic ranges of these 2 species overlap only in California, Nevada, and Oregon.
Sugar pine is also superficially similar to southwestern white pine (P. strobiformis). However, there is no overlap between the known geographic ranges of sugar and southwestern white pine. While both species occur in Mexico, sugar pine occurs only on the northern Baja Peninsula, while southern western white pine occurs further east.
Representative Photos of Sugar Pine
Pinus longaeva
Common name: Great Basin Bristlecone Pine
Habitat: This species occurs in upper montane, subalpine, and timberline areas. This species occurs at elevations ranging from 1,700-3,400 m (5,577-11,155 ft).
Range: California, Nevada, Utah
Description: Comprehensive descriptions for the species are provided by the Flora of North America and the Fire Effects Information System.
Tips for Identification of Great Basin Bristlecone Pine: Look for trees to 16 m (~52 ft) tall with trunks up to 2 m in diameter. The crowns are highly variable in growth form with low-elevation trees typically tall and upright, and high elevation trees twisted and contorted. The needles are characteristically strongly up-curved, and the branches often have bottle brush appearance. The seed cones are cylindric to round when open, 6–10cm (2.4–4 in) long, and purple aging to brown; the apophyses are much thickened, the umbo is central and armed with a slender but stiff, variable length prickle 1–6 mm (1/16–1/4 in).
Great Basin Bristlecone Pine is most similar to Rocky Mountain Bristlecone Pine (P . aristata) and Foxtail Pine (P . balfouriana). However, the known ranges of these 3 species do not overlap. Great Basin Bristlecone Pine occurs in California, Nevada, and Utah, while Rocky Mountain Bristlecone Pine occurs in Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. Foxtail pine occurs only in California and has 2 distinct subpopulations. Southern foxtail pine occurs in the high southern Sierra Nevada Mountains of Fresno, Tulare, and Inyo counties. Northern foxtail pine occurs in the high North Coast and Klamath ranges in Siskiyou, Trinity, Shasta, and Tehama counties. Great Basin Bristlecone Pine occurs in California on the summits of the Panamint, Inyo, and White mountains of Mono and Inyo counties.
The primary morphological differences between the 3 species are 1) the leaves of Rocky Mountain Bristlecone Pine are strongly grooved on the lower surface, while the leaves of the other 2 species are ungrooved or, if grooved, the grooves are several and indistinct, and 2) the prickles on mature seed cones of Rocky Mountain Bristlecone Pine are relatively long (6–10 mm), whereas in the other 2 species the prickles are shorter (< 6 mm) or absent.
Representative photos of Pinus longaeva
Pinus monticola
Common name: Western white pine
Habitat: Lowland to upper montane and lower subalpine areas. This species often occurs on sheltered slope positions and valley bottoms. This species occurs at elevations ranging from 0–3,000 m (0–9,843 ft).
Range: Alberta, British Columbia; California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington.
Description: Comprehensive descriptions for the species are provided by the Flora of North America and the Fire Effects Information System.
Tips for Identification of western white pine: This species can grow to 70 m (230 m) tall and typically has a straight stem, and a narrow, cone-shaped crown. Mature seed cones have persistent scales and terminal umbos, and are 15–25 cm (6–10 in) long. Western white pine is similar to sugar pine (P. lambertiana). The primary difference between the 2 being the length of mature seed cones; 15–25 cm (6–10 in)for western white pine and >25 cm for sugar pine. Western white pine is also somewhat similar to southwestern white pine (P. strobiformis). However, there is no overlap between the geographic ranges of these 2 species.
Representative Photos of Western White Pine
Pinus strobiformis
Common name: Southwestern white pine
Habitat: This species occurs from the montane zone up to timberline on moist, cool sites with deep soils. This species occurs at elevations ranging from 1900–3000 m (6,234-9,243 ft).
Range: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas; northern Mexico
Description: A comprehensive description for the species is provided by the Flora of North America
Tips for Identification of southwestern white pine: Look for tall, straight trees to 30 m (98 ft) with spreading, ascending branches. Mature seed cones have persistent scales, terminal umbos, and reflexed apophyses, and are 15–25 cm (6–10 in) long. Southwestern white pine is somewhat similar to limber pine (P. flexilis). However, the range of these 2 species overlap only in Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. Where they overlap the 2 species are distinguished by the apophyses of mature seed cone scales, which are recurved in southwestern white pine and not recurved in limber pine. Also the bark on the trunks of mature southwestern white pines is thick, furrowed, whereas the bark on the trunk of mature limber pines is thin, and platy.
Representative Photos of Southwestern White Pine
Pinus torreyana
Common name: Torrey Pine
Habitat: This species occurs near sea level in scattered open stands on ridgetops, slopes, and gullies.
Range: Torrey Pine is the rarest of North American pines. This species occurs in 2 small areas of southern California: near Del Mar (San Diego County) and on the northeastern shore of Santa Rosa Island (Santa Barbara County).
Description: A comprehensive description for the species is provided by the Flora of North America and the Fire Effects Information System.
Tips for Identification of Torrey Pine: Look for relatively short trees to 15–23 m (49–75 ft ) with trunks to 1 m in diameter. As this species is typical of windswept coastal areas, the trunks are mostly crooked and leaning, and the crown shape ranges from rounded to flattened or irregular. The seed cones are large, heavy, symmetric, round, and persist on the tree for several years after maturity. The apophyses are thick and angular, and the umbo is central and forms a short, curved-tipped pyramid.
Torrey Pine is strongly distinct, both geographically and morphologically, from all other 5 needle pines in western North America.
Representative Photos of Pinus Torreyana
Literature Cited
Kral, R. 2022. Pinus. In: Flora of North America Editorial Committee, eds. 1993+. Flora of North America North of Mexico [Online]. 22+ vols. New York and Oxford. Vol. 2. http://beta.floranorthamerica.org/Pinus. Accessed [2022-12-17].
USFS (2022). Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.feis-crs.org/feis/ [2022-12-31].
Elfinwood Ecology 