code: 5061
A rounded, often shrubby evergreen, with scaled dark gray bark and irregularly spreading branches. Short, dark green needles have specks of white resin that form on them. Growth can vary greatly.
Light
Your Bristlecone Pine will need plenty of sun to encourage growth. Without this, they’ll be stunted and unhealthy looking.
Their preference will be for a full sun position. They’ll handle a partial shade environment too, but their growth rate will be slower.
Soil
These trees still thrive in the rockiest, most infertile soil types. They’ll grow in pretty much any soil. The only requirement they have is that it’s well-drained.
Water
Bristlecone Pines are one of the most drought-tolerant tree species. This makes them a good choice for spaces that don’t see much rainfall. Bristlecone Pines have a wide-spreading root system that allows it to absorb the maximum amount of water in dry environments.
Temperature and Humidity
As you would expect from a tree that grows in mountainous areas where others don’t, the Bristlecone Pine is very hardy. These species manage to survive even when long periods of scorching or freezing temperatures hit. They hold up well under gale-force winds too.
Fertilizer
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that this is one tree that won’t need any additional fertilization, regardless of how poor quality the soil is.
Pruning
Unlike some of the more common pine species, you won’t have to prune back the Bristlecone varieties as frequently. They’re very slow-growing.
Their growth rate, however, will be much faster at low elevations with higher rainfall than it would be in the harsh mountainous regions. Once well established, you may have to do a small amount of pruning to keep the shape for ornamental purposes, or to take off some height or trim back encroaching branches.
Growing From Seeds
Bristlecone Pines grow relatively easily from seeds. When selecting a position to sow the seeds, or transplant saplings to, make sure you account for their extensive rooting system. Once they’re well established, it can be difficult to move them.
Information:
Maximum Elevation: 11,000 Feet
Mature Size (generic) : TREE (10-20′ Tall) • Average WIdth
USDA Hardiness Zone : 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Water Needs : Low
Light Needs : Full Sun
Growth Rate : Slow
Mature Height : 10-12 ft. (30 years)
Mature Width : 4-6 ft.
Name : Bristlecone Pine
