When planning your landscape design, it’s crucial to incorporate native tree species into the mix. Pine trees are a type of conifer in the family of Pinaceae that can be found not only throughout Montana’s national forests, but homesteads as well! So, in this article we’ll be reviewing the types of pine trees in Montana.
If you’re curious about a different region, read about the types of pine trees in Colorado here. Or, read about the types of pine trees in California here.
Table of Contents
What does a pine tree look like?
Before we dive into the specific types of pine trees in Montana, let’s take a look at how you can learn to spot a pine tree. The Montana Forest Service also has a great directory on how to spot trees in the area!
For starters, pine trees are evergreen conifers. Conifers are a group of cone-bearing seed plants that can be recognized by their cones and needles. So, if you see a large, majestic looking tree that has pointy needle-like leaves, seed-bearing cones, and reddish-brown bark – then you’re most likely looking at a pine tree!
However, that isn’t to say that every type of pine tree has the exact same features. Some species in this list are smaller, while others are larger. Some are harvested for their sap and even needles, while others are harvested primarily for their bark.
What type of pine trees grow in Montana?
Believe it or not, there are are a variety of pine trees native to the state of Montana. As we discussed above, all feature different qualities and specific uses. So, let’s take a look at the types of pine trees in Montana!
#1 – Limber Pine (Pinus Flexilis)
The Limber Pine can be found all over the Western United States. They grow for an extremely long time (one tree in Oregon was found to be more than 2,000 years old) and grow very tall – typically around 45-65 feet. They average 20 inches in diameter and are slow-growing, often taking hundreds of years to reach maturity.
#2 – Ponderosa Pine (Pinus Ponderosa)
The Ponderosa Pine (also known as a Bull Pine, Yellow Pine, Black Jack), the state tree of Montana, is a gorgeous and very large tree! Typically, these trees reach over 235 feet in height. They are primarily found in mountain ranges across the Western United States, with huge trunks spanning 3 to 4 feet across. Ponderosa Pines have 4-8 inch long evergreen needles that droop down from their branches. If you have the opportunity to come across one – smell the bark – it smells like vanilla and butterscotch!
#3 – Lodgepole Pine (Pinus Contorta)
The Lodgepole Pine (also known as the Tamarack Pine and the Short Pine) is a highly adaptable tree that can grow in all different types of environments. They’re a tall, slender, straight tree that often sticks straight up. If you’re not sure if what you’re looking at is a Lodgepole – check to see if the needles occur in bunches of two. Additionally, the needles are often twisted in a spiral shape with sharp points.
#4 – Rocky Mountain Juniper (Juniperus Scopulorum)
The indigenous Rocky Mountain Juniper can be found in almost every county of Montana! They really adapt to the environment they’re in – and they can look like a bushy shrub or even a really tall shrub. They can be recognized by their reddish-brown bark that is extremely hard and strong. In some climates, they can even be used in drought-tolerant landscape designs.
#5 – Engelmann Spruce (Picea Engelmannii)
The Engelmann Spruce is the only spruce native to Montana! It’s found in the Western half of the state, typically in cool mountain canyons and along streams/lakesides at high elevations. The Engelmann Spruce’s needles are green, with droopy branches hanging down. If you’re designing your landscaping and want to use a blue-tinged Colorado Spruce, this Engelmann Spruce is also another option (that’s a Montana native).
#6 – Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga Menziesii)
The Douglas Fir is a type of Evergreen tree that can grow up to 60m tall, equipped with spreading branches and narrow cones. Unlike a Grand Fir, a Douglas isn’t actually a “true fir” of the genus Abies family. Typically, you’ll find bark of these young trees to be a yellow-green color, while the adult trees feature reddish-brown bark. Douglas Fir spread across the Western two-thirds of the state, encompassing Bozeman, Big Sky, Missoula, the Flathead Valley, and more.
#7 – Subalpine Fir (Abies Lasiocarpa)
Subalpine Fir (also known as Alpine Fir) can be seen growing at high elevations throughout the western half of Montana. If you’ve ever headed out to the forest to grab a Christmas Tree – chances are you’ve gotten an Alpine Fir, because of its narrow shape and layered branches. They’re also known for having an unpleasant needle smell – some people call them “piss fir”.
#8 – Pacific Yew (Taxus Brevifolia)
If you’re lucky, you can even find some Pacific Yews in the far northwest corner of Montana. A Pacific Yew is an Evergreen Timber Tree (the only Yew native to North America) that is usually between 15 to 50 feet tall. In past years, the bark was used to make furniture and other items. However, in recent years – the USDA found that the bark contains a toxic compound (Taxol) that is a potent drug for treatment of certain types of cancer. Therefore, Yews must grow at least 100 years before being harvested.
#9 – Western Hemlock (Tsuga Heterophylla)
The Western Hemlock (also known by another common name – Mountain Hemlock) is a medium-sized tree with a narrow crown and drooping branches. The bark is often a reddish-brown and is really thin and scaly. You won’t find a Western Hemlock throughout all of Montana – only in the northwestern parts of the state. Specifically – Lincoln, Flathead, Sanders, Lake, Mineral, and Missoula counties (similar habitat to a Western White Pine or Western Red Cedar).
#10 – Western Larch (Larix Occidentalis)
The Western Larch is a gorgeous tree found in northwest Montana (especially Seeley Lake). They’re large trees – typically growing up to 150-200 feet in height. They can live for extremely long periods of time – with the Forest Service noting they’ve found 850-year old Larch trees. That’s crazy to think about! During the fall, they’re extremely beautiful and hard to miss!
Other Pine Trees in Montana:
If you’re still interested in finding other native pine trees – here are a few more!
- Whitebark Pine (Pinus Albicaulis)
- Mountain Hemlock (Tsuga Mertensiana)
- Western White Pine (Pinus Monticola)
- Grand Fir (Abies Grandis)