Lodgepole Pine
Pinus contorta
- Native to:
- Canada, Mexico, United States
Walter Siegmund (en.wikipedia.org)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Coniferophyta | - Conifers
- Family:
- Pinaceae
- Genus:
- Pinus
- Species:
- Pinus contorta
- USDA Symbol:
- PICO
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- 2500 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun
Wildlife Benefits
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★★★★☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Banks' wave moth (Semiothisa banksianae), Black zigzag (Panthea acronyctoides), Coleotechnites ardas, Coleotechnites biopes, Coleotechnites canusella, Cydia inopiosa, Dioryctria contortella, Eastern Panthea (Panthea furcilla), Eastern spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana), Epinotia aridos, Eucosma rescissoriana, Eupithecia albicapitata, Eupithecia annulata, Eupithecia longipalpata, Eupithecia palpata, fir coneworm (Dioryctria abietivorella), floral bud moth (Coleotechnites florae), Forked Euchlaena Moth (Euchlaena tigrinaria), Gabriola dyari, Glena nigricaria, Hydriomena nevadae, Hydriomena speciosata, Imitated Melanolophia (Melanolophia imitata), jack pine budworm (Choristoneura pinus), Jack pine tube moth (Argyrotaenia tabulana), lodgepole needleminer (Coleotechnites milleri), Melanchra pulverulenta, Mountain Pine Shoot Moth (Rhyacionia montana), Nameless Pinion (Lithophane innominata), obscure leafroller (Argyrotaenia occultana), ornate eupithecia (Eupithecia ornata), Pandora moth (Coloradia pandora), Petrova albicapitana, Petrova metallica, pine false looper (Zale duplicata), Pine Hypagyrtis Moth (Hypagyrtis piniata), pine needle sheathminer (Zelleria haimbachi), pine needleminer (Exoteleia pinifoliella), pine shoot moth (Ocnerostoma piniariella), Porcelain Gray (Protoboarmia porcelaria), pulmonaria stenoporpia (Stenoporpia pulmonaria), Rhyacionia pasadenana, Rhyacionia zozana, Semiothisa adonis, Semiothisa bicolorata, sequoia pitch moth (Synanthedon sequoiae), Silver-spotted Tiger Moth (Lophocampa argentata), Spiramater lutra, Stark's Coleotechnites (Coleotechnites starki), Stenoporpia separataria, striped epirranthis moth (Epirranthis substriataria), Sugar pine tortrix (Choristoneura lambertiana), Synanthedon novaroensis, Syngrapha epigaea, Variable Climbing Cutworm (Xestia elimata), Variegated cutworm (Peridroma saucia), Western spruce budworm (Choristoneura occidentalis), Xestia praevia, Entomologist's hairstreak (Incisalia eryphon), Menapia White (Neophasia menapia)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Two-form bumble bee (Bombus bifarius) Hummingbirds: Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) Moths:Grote's Underwing (Catocala grotiana), maple looper moth (Autographa mappa), Putnam's Looper (Plusia putnami), Streaked Salt Marsh Moth (Platarctia parthenos)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals, deer
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Requires fire for germination
- Fire Notes:
- Lodgepole pine (var. latifolia) has serotinous cones that require heat from fire to open and release seeds. Stands often regenerate prolifically after stand-replacing fires.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 4.5 - 7.0 (acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- Thrives in nutrient-poor, well-drained soils typical of its native range.
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–42 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily after cold stratification; light not required but improves germination rates.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are treated with a water/bleach bath, followed by a 48-hour running water rinse soak and a 30-45 day cold, moist stratification. Seeds are placed in fine mesh bags in moist peat moss and buried in ventilated containers at 3C. Nonstratified seeds germinate to higher percentages in light, while stratified seeds germinate to higher percentages in darkness.
Establishment: P. contorta is found in a wide range of locations from Alaska and Yukon to northern Baja California and Colorado. Seed collection varies with some coming from wild collections and others from seed orchards managed by government agencies. All seed is kept separate by collection area, elevation, and date collected.
Source: npn.rngr.net