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Pinus flexilis

Limber Pine

Pronunciation
PI-nus FLEX-i-lis
Pronunciation Audio
Family
Genus
Nativity

Rocky Mts. of w. N. Am., Alberta to n. Mex., east to Tex.

Growth Habit

Small to medium sized tree.

Hardiness
4
Culture

Full sun in well drained soil. Grows best in moist soil.

Facultative Status
Best in moist, well drained soil
Landscape Use

Five needle pine, with a dense, broadly pyramidal habit in youth and becoming a low, broad, flat-topped tree at maturity. Average height is 30 to 50 feet and average spread is 15 to 35 feet. Young trees have light gray or greenish gray bark. Older tree trunks are gray brown, separated by deep fissures into rectangular or nearly square, superficially scaled plates or blocks. Needles persist 5-6 years, are densely crowded at the ends of the branchlets, pointing forward, rigid, curved or slightly twisted, 2.5 to 3.5 inches long, margins entire, apex sharp-pointed, and an attractive blue green. Male flowers are rose colored, females are purpe. Cones are subterminal, cylindric ovoid, 3-6" long, erect when young and pendulously spreading when mature, light brown, quite resinous. This pine is a handsome specimen tree and tolerates cold, abrasive winds and city conditions. Appears to be quite adaptable. Native to the Rocky Mountains of western North America.

Foliage

Needles in bundles of five, 2.5 to 3.5 inches long, stiff. Needles are bunched at the tip of the branches, with needles pointing forward or clasping the stem.

Buds

Buds are .25 inch long, ovoid in shape.

Bark

Dark gray, developing fissures with maturity.

Flower

male flowers rose colored, female flowers are purple

Fruit

Cone, ovoid, 3 to 6 inches long, 1.5 inch wide.cone

Propagation

Seeds, cultivars are all grafted.

Pests
None serious.
Cultivars

'Glauca' - foliage more blue than the species.

'Glauca Pendula' - a weeping, blue foliage form. Can be used as a groundcover.

'Vandewolf's Pyramid' - potentially the best of the blue foliage forms with a denser, more uniform habit.

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