Learning about the different types of pine trees (also known as conifers) is fascinating! Whether you’re trying to pick out the best Christmas Tree, are remodeling your landscape design, or you’re just curious – keep reading for information on the different types of pine trees in Colorado.
Or, read about the different types of pine trees in Montana here.
What is the most common type of pine tree?
Before we get into the specific pine trees in Colorado, let’s go over the most common pine tree. Therefore, next time you’re wondering what kind of tree you’re looking at – you may just be right!
In Colorado, the most common type of coniferous tree is the Ponderosa Pine. The Ponderosa Pine also goes by Yellow Pine, Black Jack, or Bull Pine. It’s a gorgeous, large tree that has bark that smells like vanilla and butterscotch! So, next time you see one but aren’t quite sure if it’s a Ponderosa Pine – go up and smell the bark! That will definitely tell you for sure.
Ponderosa Pines can grow up to 200 feet tall and live for a very long amount of time. In Colorado, they do best in dry, nutrient poor soils where they are accompanied by other trees such as Douglas-Fir, Rocky Mountain Juniper, and even Spruce. They’re really resistant to wildfires due to their self-pruning branches and thick, insulating bark.
If you look closely, you’ll see that they have evergreen needles that are stiff, and dark yellow-green. They’re typically in bundles of 3 towards the end of the branches.
What kind of pines are in Colorado?
Keep reading to find out what types of native trees there are in Colorado – and to also learn what elevations they survive in, characteristics, and shapes (such as pyramidal shape)! So – follow along to learn about all the different coniferous trees around you!
Colorado Blue Spruce Pine (Picea Pungens)
The Blue Spruce Pine (the Colorado State tree) typically grows 70 to 115 feet and has gray-brown bark with thick scales. You can spot this tree by looking at the leaves – it typically has evergreen pine needles that are blue or light green with white lines. If you’re wondering where you’ll find this pine – it grows in elevation ranging from 6,700 to 11,500 feet!
Bristlecone Pine (Pinus Aristata)
The Bristlecone Pine is a smaller tree – typically ranging in height from 15 to 30 feet. You’ll find it in habitats with cold, rocky slopes – often up high mountain ridges. The Bristlecone has cylindrical, dark-purple pine cones that make it pretty easy to spot!
Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga Menziesii)
The Douglas Fir is a common pine tree across North America. They’re fairly large – ranging in height from 100 to 130 feet. You can find them in high elevation ranges from 6,000 to 9,500 feet. Douglas Firs have extremely thick bark and light brown cones that hang from the branches. Fir trees in general have extremely needlelike leaves that grow directly from the branches. They’re shaped like suction cups and are generally pretty easy to spot as well.
Engelmann Spruce (Picea Engelmannii)
The Engelmann Spruce is a tree found in high, cold forest environments. They range in height from 45 to 130 feet and feature chestnut-colored oblong cones. Interestingly enough, Engelmann Spruces are generally killed by wildfires due to their thin bark, shallow roots, and low growing branches.
Limber Pine (Pinus Flexilis)
The Limber Pine is a relatively well-known Colorado tree. They’re a smaller tree ranging in height from 40 to 50 feet. In mature trees, you’ll see blue-green needles that are in a bundle, often 2 to 3 inches long. Personally, I love the cones on these trees – they’re yellow-brown, and typically egg-shaped. Additionally, the seeds are really large with a short wing. The Limber Pine does best in nutrient-poor soils on dry, rocky slopes. Additionally, it’s pretty common for young trees in this family to be killed by wildfires.
Piñon Pine (Pinus Edulis)
The Piñon Pine (or Pinyon Pine) can be spotted by its reddish-brown bark and evergreen needles. They’re smaller – typically ranging from 20 to 50 feet. They thrive in an open woodlands habitat – either alone or with junipers – in elevations ranging from 5,200 to 9,000 feet. They’re also easily killed by wildfires due to their thin bark and relatively flammable foliage.
Ponderosa Pine (Pinus Ponderosa)
The Ponderosa Pine is a stunning large tree – growing as high as 160 to 200 feet tall. They have extremely tough bark and dark yellow-green stiff needles. Because of their thick bark and self-pruning branches, they’re extremely resistant to fire. If you ever come across one – smell the bark – it smells like vanilla and butterscotch!
Rocky Mountain Juniper (Juniperus Scopulorum)
The Rocky Mountain Juniper tends to grow on rocky soils in the Colorado foothills (and occasionally on the plains). They do best in elevation ranges from 5,000 to 9,000 feet and typically grow in height up to 50 feet. They feature gray-brownish bark that’s extremely thin. Therefore, they’re often taken out by wildfires due to their resinous wood and thin bark.
Subalpine Fir (Abies Lasiocarpa)
Ranging in height from 60 to 100 feet, the Subalpine Fir does best in cold, high elevation forests. They feature upright, cylindrical cones that are a very dark purple shade. These cones are often 2 to 4 inches long (in the upper part of the crown). They’re also deciduous and fall off when the tree matures. Additionally, they have blue-green evergreen needles with silverly lines. If you haven’t heard of the SubAlpine Fir, they’re also known as White Firs, Alpine Firs, and Mountain Balsam Firs.
Lodgepole Pine (Pinus Contorta)
With light brown bark, the Lodgepole Pine is one of Colorado’s more popular tree species. It features evergreen needles ranging in color from yellow to dark green, and typically grows in height about 20 to 80 feet. If you look at the tree closely, you’ll be able to see shiny, yellow-brown, egg-shaped cones. Interestingly enough, these cones are deciduous and will release seeds when in extreme heat conditions.
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