Scientific name: Pinus aristata
Synonym: Pinus balfouriana
Family: PINACEAE
Common names: “Bristlecone pine”
Plant Type: Evergreen conifer tree
Conditions:
Zone: 4-8
Light: Full sun
Exposure: Exposed
Soil: Average, sandy rocky soils
Moisture: Well drained – drought resistant
Aesthetic:
Plant Size: H 15-30′ W 20′
Leaf and Stem shape: Dark green needles in bundles of 5 covered with distinct specks of white resin
Cone: Conspicuous cones may fall or remain on the tree for years
Pruning: None is best, can be ruined with improper pruning
Maintenance: Low, can cut back the candles to densify it into a shrub
Landscape use: Species tree, screens, alpine garden, bonsai
Propagate: By seed
Pests & Disease: None in Victoria
Comments: Interesting habit, native to the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and San Francisco, where the oldest dated tree is 2435 years old
Vancouver Island Grows 