Bristlecone Pine

A species of trees from the Pine family (Pinaceae). In the wild it occurs in Colorado, northern New Mexico and Arizona. It is also often found in mountains at altitudes up to 3700 m above sea level, in the dry areas of Utah, California and Nevada. Longevity depends on the growing location. The oldest bristlecone pine (1500 years) grows in the mountains of Arizona. The species is very ornamental. Trees that live for more than 4000 years are separated into another species – bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva).

Forms a shrubby, medium-sized tree 5-15 m tall with a broad pyramidal crown. Bark thin; on young trees green and smooth, later becoming gray-brown, scaly at the base. Branches are stiff, short, ascending. Grows slowly, reaching 2-3 m in height by age 30 (annual growth up to 10 cm). Not resistant to winds.

The color of the foliage ranges from light green to bluish-green. Needle length 2.5-4 cm. Needles are collected in bundles of 5, lying close together, forming a "fox tail" with characteristic white clumps of resin. Foliage is long-lived (retained on branches up to 15 years).

Blooms in early spring. Male cones numerous, clustered, yellow or red in color.

Cones are sessile, cylindrical-ovoid, closed, 5-10 cm long and 3-4 cm in diameter, green and later brown, do not disintegrate. Cones mature in 16 months. Begins bearing fruit in the 20th year of life. Scale tips thickened, expanded into a shield. Seeds – nuts, 5 mm long, with wings 10-20 mm long.

Hardiness zone 5B. Drought-tolerant.

Cultivars: Bashful, Joe's Best, Rezek Doll, Sherwood Compact, Beran, Betwixt, Bingo, Bright ray, Chief Nr95, Chiep, Clank Redly, Como, Crafty, Dancing D, Denis, Dexi, Doc, Dopey, Dwarf Tree.

Location: prefers poor, sandy, well-drained soils. Light-loving, requires a site protected from wind. Does not tolerate waterlogging or soil compaction.

Planting: The optimal time for planting is the third ten-day period of March. Before planting, a container-grown plant should be watered abundantly. Soil mix: turf soil and sand (2:1); to improve establishment nitroammophoska or humus soil is also added. If necessary, lime is added in the amount of 200-300 g. For heavy soils drainage of broken brick and sand at a layer of at least 15-20 cm is mandatory. It is not recommended to plant this pine near aspen, poplar or blackcurrant.

Care: dead needles persist on the tree for a long time and to improve the decorative appearance they should be removed manually. In the year of planting regular watering is recommended, especially during dry periods. For prevention of typical diseases apply microfertilizers and immunostimulants to the soil. In spring (April-May) feed with nitroammophoska (30-40 g/sq.m) or with complex fertilizers.

Pruning: formative and sanitary pruning is recommended. Crown shaping is carried out by partial pruning of the annual shoot growth.

Pests: pine aphid, adelgids, coniferous mealybugs, pine scale, subcortical pine bug, spider mite, red pine sawfly, pine moth, pine shoot borer, pine geometrid, pine owlet moth, pine leaf-mining moth, cone moth, cone pyralid, pine bark beetle, large and small pine bark borers, pine longhorn beetle, pine jewel beetle, pine weevil, spotted pyralid.

Diseases: blister rust, pine vertun, rust canker (resinous canker "seryanka"), scleroderriosis (umbrella disease), Schütte, bark necrosis.

Propagation: propagated by seeds, which are sown in the ground in early spring. Seeds must be pre-stratified for a month.

Uses: Used in rock gardens, for rocky, heather and Japanese gardens, planted in groups or singly, and also very popular for growing as bonsai.