PLANT FINDER
Northern Blue Limber Pine
Pinus flexilis 'Northern Blue'
Height: 30 feet
Spread: 15 feet
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 4a
Description:
A fast growing selection that is resistant to insects and disease; the unique branches are extremely flexible, featuring long, silvery, blue-green needles; adaptable and durable, showing no signs of winter burning; a great landscape accent
Ornamental Features
Northern Blue Limber Pine is primarily valued in the landscape for its distinctively pyramidal habit of growth. It has attractive bluish-green foliage with hints of silvery blue which emerges chartreuse in spring. The needles are highly ornamental and remain bluish-green throughout the winter. The shaggy gray bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape.
Landscape Attributes
Northern Blue Limber Pine is a dense evergreen tree with a strong central leader and a distinctive and refined pyramidal form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.
This is a relatively low maintenance tree. When pruning is necessary, it is recommended to only trim back the new growth of the current season, other than to remove any dieback. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Northern Blue Limber Pine is recommended for the following landscape applications;
- Accent
- Shade
- Hedges/Screening
- Windbreaks and Shelterbelts
Planting & Growing
Northern Blue Limber Pine will grow to be about 30 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 15 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 2 feet from the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live to a ripe old age of 100 years or more; think of this as a heritage tree for future generations!
This tree does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for xeriscaping or the moisture-conserving landscape. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selection of a native North American species.
