Lodgepole Pine
Pinus contorta
Lodgepole pine takes its name from the long, straight, slender trunks Indigenous peoples used as lodge poles for tipis. Its serotinous cones stay sealed with resin for years, opening only in the heat of a wildfire to reseed the burned ground.
Where found
Subalpine and montane forests throughout the Cascades and Rockies, often forming dense, even-aged stands after fire.
Fun facts
- Needles grow in twisted pairs — the source of its species name, contorta.
- Many cones only open after fire melts their resin seal.
- Dense, thin-barked stands are highly vulnerable to mountain pine beetle outbreaks.
Specs
| Height | 20–30 m |
|---|---|
| Spread | 4–8 m |
| Lifespan | 100–200 yrs |
| Growth Rate | Fast |
| Sun | Full sun |
| Native Range | Alaska to Baja California, east to the Rockies and Black Hills |
