Pinus contorta aka Lodgepole Pine

Pinus contorta is an evergreen tree in the pine family. Its names include shore pine, beach pine, and lodgepole pine. It grows wild from subarctic North America to northern Baja California. Its range includes western Canada and the western United States. It grows on coastal dunes, in bogs, and in mountains. Inland trees grow larger than trees near the coast.

Garden trees often reach 40–50 feet (12–15 metres) tall. Their spread can reach 20–35 feet (6–11 metres). Some trees reach about 82 feet (25 metres) in height. The crown may be broad and round or narrow and conical. Coastal winds can bend the trunk into a twisted shape. Bark ranges from reddish brown to gray, with scales or deep cracks. Young shoots have an orange-brown tone and darken with age. The narrow, reddish-brown buds carry resin. Green to yellow-green needles grow in pairs and may twist.

Pollen cones appear from April to June. Yellow male cones form clusters near the ends of branches. Reddish-purple female cones grow near branch tips in the upper crown. The woody seed cones are brown, with an egg-like shape. They often point back toward the stem. Their scales bear thin spines that can wear away. Cones take 16–20 months to mature after pollination. Some release seeds at once; others stay shut for years. Birds and small mammals eat the seeds. Songbirds nest among the branches, which also host insect larvae.

This fast-growing pine needs full sun and soil that drains well. Acid or neutral soil suits it. It grows in sand, loam, gravel, and poor soil. It withstands drought, wind, and salt spray. RHS rates its cold hardiness as H6. It needs no routine pruning and can grow from seed. Coastal gardens, Japanese gardens, and bonsai are recorded uses. Aphids, adelgids, sawfly larvae, and pine shoot moth may attack it. Honey fungus and needle cast can also occur. It has become invasive in New Zealand, where its spread causes concern.

Recorded foods include inner bark, spring sap, and seeds. People have eaten the bark raw or cooked during shortages. Hardened pitch has served as chewing gum. Indigenous peoples used the tree for shelters, rope, and wound treatments. Pitch also served as glue and helped waterproof goods. Pine wood, sawdust, and resin can irritate sensitive skin.