PlantWatch

Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta)

Photo by R. David Williams

Also known as: shore pine (coastal)
French name: pin tordu
Bloom time: May to July
Report for: BC, AB

General: There are two varieties of this pine: one is a smaller (up to 15 m tall) branching, coastal variety. The other is straighter, (up to 30 m tall) unbranched, and grows in the interior.

Leaves & Twigs: The paired needles are 3–7 cm long, somewhat twisted in lodgepole pine and stiffer and shorter in shore pine.

Flowers & Fruit: The seed cones (4–6 cm long cylinders) often point backwards toward the tree trunk. Note the short prickles on the scales of the cones.
The reddish green, male pollen cones occur in dense clusters at the base of the new shoots. The date of pollen release varies as a result of its wide distribution.

Habitat: The lodgepole pine is a wide ranging species, and can be found in both coastal bogs and shallow sub-alpine soils.

Sampling: Tag a typical tree for observation.

To Observe:

• First bloom: when the first pollen is being shed by the male cones on the observed tree (three places)
• Mid bloom: when 50% of the male cones are abundantly shedding pollen.