Pinus albicaulis

Whitebark pine, Whitebark Pine

Family: Pinaceae · Type: shrub · Native

Whitebark pine is a California native shrub found in the Klamath Ranges, high Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, Warner Mountains, and eastern Sierra Nevada in upper red-fir forest and subalpine areas at elevations of 2,000 to 3,700 meters. When exposed to harsh conditions, this pine produces a distinctive growth form with trunks that are generally prostrate or shrubby, creating a wind-deformed crown. Growing with five dark green needles per bundle, each 3 to 7 centimeters long and slightly curved, the pine develops a gray-white bark that remains smooth and thin as it matures. Its seed cones are distinctive, sessile and erect, measuring 3.5 to 9 centimeters long and colored purple-brown, with seeds typically dispersed by animals. The tree's unique subalpine adaptation allows it to thrive in challenging high-elevation environments, often forming twisted, wind-sculpted shapes that reflect its harsh mountain habitat.

Habitat: Upper red-fir forest to timberline, especially subalpine forest

Elevation: 2000-3700 m

Bioregions: KR, CaRH, SNH, Wrn, SNE

California counties: Mono, El Dorado, Modoc, Fresno, Inyo, Nevada, Mariposa, Madera, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tuolumne, Tulare, Trinity, San Bernardino, Placer, Tehama, Plumas, Lake, Glenn, Alpine, Amador, Lassen

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.