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Pinus flexilils
Common Name Limber Pine
Family Pinaceae (Pine Family)

Description

This tree can get up to 20 meters tall, with a pleasing pyramidal to rounded form. It has very dark brown bark with rectangular plates. There are 5, 3.5-7 cm-long needles per cluster. Cones can be up to 14 cm in size.

Range

This tree has been located in all counties in Utah save Uintah county. Occurs scattered in the intermountain west, north into Canada and south to Mexico. Elevation: 7,500-12,000 feet.

Culture

Dry, rocky and windy slopes.

Value

Limber pine is a high elevation pine generally found above 6,000 feet, particularly along ridges. Its common and scientific names come from the long, limber branches that readily flex under a snow load to shed the snow. The seeds are quite large and edible, although rarely collected. This is an attractive, interesting pine if one can find it in the trade.

Propagation

Limber Pine sheds its seeds from September until October. Fresh seeds require 21-90 days cold treatment (pre-chilling). Takes 21 days to germinate. Stored seed will need a 48 hour soak in hydrogen peroxide (from the market) followed by the cold treatment listed above. Do not let the seed get too moist, as it will rot.