Whitebark Pine

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(Pinus albicaulis)

Size at 250 years: 30-60 feet tall, 1-2 feet in diameter

Life Span: 450 years

Needles: 1 1/2 to 2 3/4 inches long, in bundles of 5. Clustered toward the ends of the branches.

Cones: About 2 1/2" long, eggshaped, purplish-brown

Bark: Young trees are light brownish gray to cream white, becoming dark brown at maturity

Where to find: High elevations about 5,000 feet. May occur as a shrub near timberline.

Things to know:
The seeds of the whitebark pine are a favorite food of the grizzly bear. A bird called the Clarks Nutcracker also eats the seeds & is responsible for "planting" many of the seeds, since the cone will not open naturally until it decays.

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