Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Western White Pine (Pinus monticola; family Pinaceae) is a species of pine that occurs in the mountains of the western United States and Canada, specifically the Sierra Nevada, the Cascade Range, the Coast Range, and the northern Rocky Mountains. The tree extends down to sea level in many areas, particularly in Oregon and Washington. It is the state tree of Idaho, and is sometimes known as the Idaho Pine. Western White Pine is a large tree, regularly growing to 30-50 meter and exceptionally up to 70 meter tall. It is a member of the white pine group, Pinus subgenus Strobus, and like all members of that group, the leaves ('needles') are in fascicles (bundles) of five, with a deciduous sheath. The needles are finely serrated, and 5-13 centimeter long. The cones are long and slender, 12-32 centimeter long and 3-4 centimeter broad (closed), opening to 5-8 centimeter broad; the scales are thin and flexible. The seeds are small, 4-7 millimeter long, and have a long slender wing 15-22 millimeter long.

Plant type

Tree

Size

35 - 230 ft Tall

Form

Pyramidal

Growth rate

Fast

Dormancy

Winter Deciduous

Calscape icon
Color

Yellow

Flowering season

Spring

Special uses

Containers

Sun

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Soil description

Prefers sandy or loamy soils. Does not grow well in clay soils.

Propagation

For propagating by seed: 1-4 mos. stratification (USDA Forest Service 1974).

Sunset Zones

1, 2, 3, 4*, 5*, 6*, 7, 15, 16

Plant communities

Lodgepole Forest, Red Fir Forest, Subalpine Forest

Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

25 confirmed and 58 likely

Confirmed Likely

Red Girdle Moth

Caripeta aequaliaria

Mottled Gray Carpet

Cladara limitaria

The Small Engrailed

Ectropis crepuscularia