Description

Leaves: Needles in groups of 5, more or less twisted; 2" to 4" long; thin and stiff, but soft to the touch; medium green to bluish green outside, inside covered with lengthwise rows of fine, white lines; finely toothed edges; evergreen, remain on tree 4-5 years.

Twigs/buds: Twigs covered with fine, orange-brown hairs at first, becoming glabrous and brown. Buds 1/3" to 1/2" long; pointed.

Flowers/fruit: Monoecious. Fruit a woody cone; short-stalked; 2" to 3" long; ovoid; purple-green to purple-brown when mature; thick, non-pointed scales; can remain closed on the tree for up to 3 years; scales do not open when ripe, rather seeds are released by animals (birds, squirrels) pulling off scales; large, wingless, edible seeds.

Bark: Gray-green and smooth on younger stems; scaly, ridged, and grayish when mature.

Wood: Little information available.

General: Native to mountains of central Europe and portions of Asia; not Utah.  Narrow, pyramidal tree when young, growing fairly slow and not getting too big (up to 30' tall). Does well on a variety of site but prefers well-drained soils. Very shade intolerant.

Landscape Use: Uncommon in Utah. I have seen a young tree doing well at the Utah Botanical Center Arboretum in Kaysville. Good tight canopy that does not get too big for landscape. Zones 3-7.

Cultivars: 'Columnaris', 'Stricta'.

Characteristics