Whitebark Pine ⚠️ Threatened
Pinus albicaulis
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
Walter Siegmund (talk)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Coniferophyta | - Conifers
- Family:
- Pinaceae
- Genus:
- Pinus
- Species:
- Pinus albicaulis
- USDA Symbol:
- PIAL
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- 2000 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Thin bark makes it susceptible to fire mortality, but can survive low-intensity fires. Post-fire regeneration depends on seed caching by Clark's Nutcracker.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rocky, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 4.5 - 6.0 (acidic to slightly acidic)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- often found on windswept ridges and slopes
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 90–120 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require cold stratification. In nature, seeds are dispersed by Clark's Nutcracker and germination is enhanced by bird caching behavior.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Hand scarify seedcoats with a file or nail clipper, ensuring that the endosperm is not damaged during scarification. Place seeds in a 48 hour running water rinse. Seeds are then placed into a 30 day warm, moist stratification at 69.8F day (12 hrs)/64.4F night (12hrs), with seeds exposed to light during day temperature cycle. Next, seeds are placed into a 30 to 100 day cold, moist stratification in moist peat in darkness at 33.8 to 37.4F.
Establishment: P. albicaulis is found at 1300 to 3700 m elevation; from British Columbia and Alberta to Washington, Oregon, Nevada, and California, and south through the Rocky mountains to Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. It occurs at or near tree line on talus, exposed bedrock, or very young soils with little horizon development.
Source: npn.rngr.net