Vanderwolf's Pyramid limber pine

Sun

Full sun; tolerates light shade but develops a less dense crown.

Water

Moderate while establishing; reasonably drought-tolerant once established. Avoid persistently wet roots.

Soil

Well-drained sandy, gravelly or loamy soil; tolerates moderately alkaline soil. Avoid compacted ground and heavy clay that stays wet.

Height

25-40 ft (7.6-12.2 m), potentially taller over many decades

Spread

10-20 ft (3-6.1 m)

Foliage

Evergreen, blue-green needles in bundles of five, with pale inner surfaces and a noticeable twist; branches are unusually flexible.

Growth

Moderate, commonly 6-12 in (15-30 cm) a year once established; growth varies with climate and soil.

Care needed

Low

• Drought tolerant
• Cold hardy
• Wildlife

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   7 ft (2 m)

2. After 1 year

   8 ft (2.4 m)

3. After 2 years

   9 ft (2.8 m)

4. After 3 years

   10 ft (3.2 m)

5. After 5 years

   13 ft (4 m)

About 20 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Mildly toxic: may upset a stomach

Native to

the US and Canada

Growth rate

Moderate

• Plant with the root flare at soil level, allowing room for the mature crown away from buildings and overhead wires.
• Water deeply during dry spells for the first two growing seasons; let the surface soil dry between waterings.
• Apply 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch over the root area, keeping it clear of the trunk.
• Do not feed routinely; use a soil test before applying fertiliser to a poorly growing tree.
• Stake only if the root ball moves in the wind, and remove supports after the first growing season.

Pruning. Little pruning is needed; remove dead, damaged or crossing branches in late winter or early spring during dry weather. Preserve the central leader and do not top the tree or cut back into bare old wood, which rarely produces new shoots.

Spring

Plant when the soil is workable and not waterlogged, then water thoroughly and mulch.

Late spring

Check new shoots for dieback and inspect branches for cankers, resin flow or unusual needle loss.

Summer

Water young trees deeply during dry spells; check soil moisture before watering again.

Autumn

Replenish mulch without covering the root flare; shedding of some older inner needles is normal.

Late autumn

Water before the ground freezes if autumn has been dry, especially for recently planted trees.

Late winter

Remove broken or dead branches and check that ties or stakes are not rubbing the trunk.

• Use as a single specimen in a broad lawn or open gravel planting where its pyramidal outline can develop.
• Place behind low shrubs and ornamental grasses for a permanent blue-green backdrop.
• Repeat at generous intervals in a large landscape to create upright rhythm without clipping.
• Combine with boulders, junipers and drought-tolerant perennials in a mountain-style garden.

Garden styles it suits: Architectural minimal, Mountain lodge, Winter interest, Dry gravel garden, Low-maintenance and Modern rustic.

Plant it with: Creeping juniper, Blue fescue, Feather reed grass, Catmint, Yarrow and Russian sage.

Wildlife: The dense evergreen crown provides shelter and nesting cover for birds. Mature cones contain seeds eaten by birds and small mammals.

• White pine blister rust can cause swollen, resinous branch cankers and dieback. Have suspected infections identified promptly; affected branches may be removable before infection reaches the trunk.
• Bark beetles can attack stressed trees, causing boring dust, resin deposits and fading needles. Reduce drought stress and seek local arborist advice promptly; badly infested trees may need removal.
• Root rot and poor growth occur in waterlogged soil. Correct drainage or replant on a better-drained site rather than increasing watering or feeding.
• Needle blights can cause spotting, browning and premature needle drop. Avoid overhead watering, improve air circulation and obtain a diagnosis before using a fungicide.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses. Needles, cones and resin are not food and may cause mouth irritation or digestive upset if swallowed; sharp needles can also cause physical injury.

• Limber pine (Pinus flexilis)

  Seed-grown trees are more variable in colour and shape, usually with a less consistently dense, pyramidal crown than 'Vanderwolf's Pyramid'.

• Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus)

  Also has needles in bundles of five, but they are generally finer, softer and less conspicuously twisted; mature cones are longer and narrower.

• Swiss stone pine (Pinus cembra)

  Usually has shorter, straighter needles packed densely along the shoots, with a slower-growing, compact crown and short, rounded cones.

The species name flexilis means flexible, referring to the pliable branches that also give limber pine its common name.

Propagation. Usually propagated commercially by grafting onto compatible pine rootstock. Seedlings will not reliably retain this cultivar's shape and foliage, and cuttings are difficult to root.

Accepted botanical name

Pinus flexilis

In the US and Canada

Native in Canada and the lower 48 states.

Native range

Alberta, Arizona, British Columbia, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota and Oregon.

Measured

Soil pH 5.7 to 6.5. Average height 715 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.