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Sugar pines are most easily identified when
they are carrying their enormous cones. The
cones are often more than 14 inches long
and 4 to 6 inches in diameter. Sugar pines
typically thrive at elevations between 3,000
feet and 7,500 feet.
Western white pines grow from 8,000
feet to just below timberline. They look
much like sugar pines, only smaller and with
a checkerboard bark.
Whitebark pines occupy the highest
elevations, where they often grow in clumps
of two to five gnarled, weather-beaten trees
on high mountain ridges above timberline.
they are carrying their enormous cones. The
cones are often more than 14 inches long
and 4 to 6 inches in diameter. Sugar pines
typically thrive at elevations between 3,000
feet and 7,500 feet.
Western white pines grow from 8,000
feet to just below timberline. They look
much like sugar pines, only smaller and with
a checkerboard bark.
Whitebark pines occupy the highest
elevations, where they often grow in clumps
of two to five gnarled, weather-beaten trees
on high mountain ridges above timberline.
| Know Your White Pines! |
Two sugar pines overlooking Lake Tahoe. Notice the
size of their enormous cones!
size of their enormous cones!
All white pines have 5 needles per bundle. So how to tell them apart?
Two western white pines.
The checkerboard bark of
a western white pine.
a western white pine.
Three very sticky, sappy sugar pine cones.
A Clark's nutcracker.
Photo courtesy of
www.WildlifeSpirits.com
Photo courtesy of
www.WildlifeSpirits.com
A group of whitebark
pines.
pines.
Sugar pines, western white pines and
whitebark pines are three species of white
pine that are very important in the Lake
Tahoe Basin and other ecosystems.
Sugar pines and western white pines
provide excellent habitat and other
benefits for wildlife. Sugar pines, which
are the largest pines in the world and
feature the world’s longest cones, are
particularly noted for their scenic beauty.
Whitebark pines provide critical snow
stabilization on high ridges above
timberline, which allows for better
infiltration of the water into the soil and
decreases high velocity runoff and
sedimentation of the lake. Whitebark seeds
are also an invaluable food source for
bears, small mammals and birds, such as the
Clark’s nutcracker.
whitebark pines are three species of white
pine that are very important in the Lake
Tahoe Basin and other ecosystems.
Sugar pines and western white pines
provide excellent habitat and other
benefits for wildlife. Sugar pines, which
are the largest pines in the world and
feature the world’s longest cones, are
particularly noted for their scenic beauty.
Whitebark pines provide critical snow
stabilization on high ridges above
timberline, which allows for better
infiltration of the water into the soil and
decreases high velocity runoff and
sedimentation of the lake. Whitebark seeds
are also an invaluable food source for
bears, small mammals and birds, such as the
Clark’s nutcracker.
The Value of White Pines
A bald eagle enjoying the view from a sugar pine.
Trees hold the snowpack on high mountain ridges,
which helps keep Tahoe's waters so clear and blue!
which helps keep Tahoe's waters so clear and blue!
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