The Whitebark Pine is a native of the Rocky mountains of the USA.

It is an alpine species that tolerates extremely dry air, intense solar radiation and blistering wind. It is susceptible to the White pine blister rust, an introduced disease, that has decimated many of the stands of 5-needle pine trees. Whitebarks are very similar to the Limber pine in its growth and habits. The cones are longer on the Whitebark pine.

Whitebark pines in Glacier National park in Montana are illustrated.

Hopefully resistance to the disease will evolve over the next few hundred years so the survival of this wonderful species may be assured.