Pine Trees of Montana
Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta Douglas ex Louden
  Common names: Tamarack, Tall                
  Lodgepole Pine, Interior Lodge...
  Height: coastal 25-30, interior 75-100 ft
  Diameter: coastal 1-1.5, interior 1-3 ft
  Showy flower: no
  Fall colors: no-evergreen
  Drought tolerant: low
  Annual rainfall: 18-25 inches
  Soil Needs: varied, pH 6.2-7.5
  Frost Free Days: 100
  Minimum Temperature (F): -70
  Growth Rate: rapid
                                               ...more
Photo Gallery
This long lived native pine tree takes various forms depending on it's location.  Coastal trees usually reach heights of 25-30 feet and 1-1.5 feet in diameter.  It is often found with a Krummholz form form.  This twisted, often horizontally spread form is the result of constant winds that deform the tree over time.  Inland, or interior, lodgepole pines   ,.,more
distributed in scattered counties throughout western Montana
Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa)
  Common names: Western Yellow Pine
  Bull Pine, Silver Pine, Yosemite Pine..
  Height: 150-223 ft
  Diameter: 4 ft
  Showy flower: no
  Fall colors: no-evergreen
  Drought tolerant:
  Annual rainfall: 15-25
  Soil Needs: moist, pH 5.0-9.0
  Frost Free Days: 150
  Minimum Temperature (F): -36
  Growth Rate: moderate
  State List: AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, ND,
  NE, NV...                         ...more                                           
Photo Gallery
Pinus ponderosa cones, nestled in a thick tuft of needles, hang from branches in bundles of 3.
Small brown single winged Pinus ponderosa seeds
Warm brown in color, Pinus ponderosa cones average 6 inches in length
Ponderosa pines are towering trees, regularly hitting the record books and recenty taking the title of tallest pine in the world at a staggering 268.35 feet tall.  Height ranges between 150-223 usually, but great heights have been recorded at optimum sites.  Trunk diameter is typically no larger than 4 feet.  Ponderosa pines have a single trunk with rough                   ...more
Pinus ponderosa is native mostly counties in southeast central Montana but scattered populations exist in the western portion as well
White Bark Pine (Pinus albicaulis Engelm.)
PROTECTED SPECIES IN NV
  Height: 50-70 ft
  Diameter: 1-2 ft
  Showy flower: no
  Fall colors: no-evergreen
  Drought tolerant: highly
  Annual rainfall: 18-72
  Soil Needs: moist, rocky, well-draining
  Frost Free Days: 90
  Minimum Temperature (F): -58
  Growth Rate: very slow
  State List: CA, ID, MT, NV, OR, WA,
  WY  Canada: AB, BC            ...more
Pinus albicaulis is a native conifer found in the western United States and Canada and is the only stone pine native to North America.  Extremely long lived and slow growing, Whitebark pine takes 200 years to reach maturity and may live to 500 years.  In 20 years, this tree species averages 15 feet tall, eventually growing to 70 feet, usually less, with a trunk diameter of 1 to 2 feet.         ...more                                                                           
Photo Gallery
male catkins of Pinus albicaulis are at the terminal ends of branches
Pinus albicaulis seeds are hard, round and without a wing
Young Pinus albicaulis have silvery bark
Pinus albicaulis is native to two isolated poipulations in the west and southwest part of Montana
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The Big Sky State, 'Gold and Silver'
Montana
The state distribution maps in the species info boxes below are from the USDA NRCS PLANTS Database at plants.usda.gov.  In instances where state specific maps are unavailable, the US distribution map will be used in its place.  Also, the PLANTS Database website states "Our county data are based primarily on the literature,
herbarium specimens, and confirmed observations. However, not all populations have been documented, so some gaps in the distribution shown above may not be real. Remember that only native and naturalized populations are mapped!"

Pine trees are one of the most varied and widely spread genus of native tree species in North America.  From the cold mountains of Alaska to Nova Scotia in the east, from high wind-swept Rocky Mountain cliffs to the fertile Appalachian forests, on seaside borders, swamps, dry foothills, lowlands and everywhere in between, pine trees can be found.  Adapted to so many environments, pine trees are hardy survivors in their native habitat.  The pine trees of North America were used by Native Americans for treatments of respiratory ailments, in canoe building and even as food.  Today native pines are one of the most valuable commercial timber sources and continue to be used for construction, furniture, pulpwood, land management and more.
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