Whitebark pine grow stout, compact, trunks and branches to conserve water and combat frostbite. To bear the brunt of high winds and heavy snow, the wood is very dense. It is also packed with resin to resist insect attack. But perhaps the most remarkable feature of whitebark pines is that since they cannot grow quickly, they grow for a very long time. They become full sized at 250-300 years, and frequently approach 900 years of age. The oldest whitebark ever found was 1267 years old, in the Sawtooth Mountains of Central Idaho. For more, listen to the podcast…

This Field Note was written by Nick Voss. Please visit the Field Notes website at the Montana Natural History Center for more information.

Interested in writing a Field Note? Contact Allison De Jong, Field Notes editor, at adejong [at] montananaturalist [dot] org or 406.327.0405.