# Whitebark Pine (*Pinus albicaulis*) The Whitebark Pine is a special tree that grows in high mountains. It has long needles and produces tasty seeds that many animals love to eat. - **Category:** [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/tree) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 7 - **Habitat:** Mountain regions ![Whitebark Pine](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Pinus_albicaulis_%287888774274%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Matt Lavin from Bozeman, Montana, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pinus_albicaulis_%287888774274%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Whitebark Pine has a tough, often gnarled and twisted trunk with reddish-brown bark, especially at high altitudes. Its needles are a deep green, growing in bundles of five, and it produces distinctive purplish-brown cones that stay on the tree. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Pinopsida - **Order:** Pinales - **Family:** Pinaceae - **Genus:** Pinus ## Interesting facts - Clark's Nutcrackers can remember thousands of secret seed stashes they buried in the mountains! - Its seeds, called pine nuts, are a yummy, energy-rich snack for bears, squirrels, and birds! - Some Whitebark Pines can survive freezing temperatures as low as -50 degrees Celsius! - These super tough trees help save snowpack longer, giving animals water later in summer! ## Special abilities - **Mountain Survivor:** Whitebark Pine can grow in harsh, rocky, high-altitude environments where few other trees can survive, clinging to life near the timberline. - **Nutcracker's Friend:** Whitebark Pine has large, wingless seeds that are expertly harvested and buried by Clark's Nutcrackers, helping the tree spread its seeds far and wide. - **Cold Resister:** Whitebark Pine can withstand extreme cold and heavy snow because its flexible branches bend instead of breaking, and its needles are adapted for icy winds. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 5-20 m - **Spread:** 5-10 m - **Edible:** Yes - **Size:** 50-150 cm - **Lifespan:** 500-1000 years - **Fruit Type:** Cone - **Growth Rate:** Slow - **Leaf Type:** Evergreen ## Ecological connections - **Symbiotic with:** [Clark's Nutcracker](https://www.snappit.app/explore/clarks-nutcracker) (*Nucifraga columbiana*) — collects and buries seeds, aiding tree dispersal - **Depends on:** [Grizzly Bear](https://www.snappit.app/explore/grizzly-bear) (*Ursus arctos*) — relies on cached seeds as a vital food source - **Parasitizes:** Mountain Pine Beetle (*Dendroctonus ponderosae*) — larvae bore into and kill weakened trees - **Shelter:** [American Marten](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-marten) (*Martes americana*) — uses mature trees for cover and den sites ## Traits - [Cold Hardy](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cold-hardy): Cold hardy plants are able to withstand low temperatures and freezing conditions without significant damage. - [Coniferous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coniferous): Coniferous plants are typically evergreen, bearing needles or scales and reproductive cones. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Nut Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nut-bearing): Nut bearing plants produce hard-shelled fruits, commonly known as nuts, which contain a single seed and are a valuable food source. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/trees) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Stay on trails and don't climb trees without adult supervision. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Whitebark Pine? Compare leaves or needles, how they attach to the twig, buds, bark and the shape of the crown. Lobed leaves are useful clues, but several unrelated trees share a similar outline. Tree Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Whitebark Pine? 5-20 m ### How wide does Whitebark Pine spread? 5-10 m ### Is Whitebark Pine edible? Yes ### How big is Whitebark Pine? 50-150 cm ### How long does Whitebark Pine live? 500-1000 years ### Where is Whitebark Pine usually found? Mountain regions ### What kind of fruit does Whitebark Pine produce? Cone ## Where to spot - [North Entrance Road Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/north-entrance-road-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District - [Rim Village Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rim-village-historic-district) — Oregon, US · Historic District - [East Glacier Ranger Station Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/east-glacier-ranger-station-historic-district) — Montana, US · Historic District - [Fort Yellowstone](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-yellowstone) — Wyoming, US · Historic Site - [Grand Loop Road](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/grand-loop-road) — Wyoming, US · Historic District - [Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lassen-volcanic-national-park-highway-historic-district) — California, US · Historic District [View all places to see Whitebark Pine](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/whitebark-pine) ## More Trees - [English Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/english-oak) (*Quercus robur*) - [Sessile Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sessile-oak) (*Quercus petraea*) - [Northern Red Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-red-oak) (*Quercus rubra*) - [White Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-oak) (*Quercus alba*) --- Source: [Whitebark Pine: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/whitebark-pine)