Pinus flexilis | Limber Pine | 5 Seeds

Pinus flexilis, commonly known as the limber pine, is a hardy, long-lived conifer native to the high-elevation regions of western North America, including the Rocky Mountains, Great Basin, and Sierra Nevada. It thrives in harsh, windswept environments at elevations ranging from 5,000 to 12,000 feet (1,500–3,600 meters), often growing on rocky slopes and exposed ridges where few other trees can survive. This slow-growing evergreen can reach heights of 20–50 feet (6–15 meters), with a rounded, irregular crown and flexible branches that give it its name. The dark green, five-needle bundles are long and slender, providing year-round interest. The bark is smooth and gray in young trees, becoming thick, furrowed, and scaly with age. Pinus flexilis produces large, cylindrical cones up to 10 inches (25 cm) long, with thick, resinous scales that release wingless seeds, an important food source for wildlife, particularly Clark’s nutcracker, which plays a crucial role in seed dispersal. Exception