Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to northern California.

Habitat: Mostly at 1000-4000 feet elevation in the mountains.

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Wind

A tall, straight tree up to 70 m. tall.

Older bark gray to nearly white, usually smooth; young twigs pubescent.

Needles bright green on the upper surface, with two silvery stripes on either side of the mid-vein on the lower surface, notched except on the coniferous branches, where pointed and often sharp; needles horizontally spreading, 15-30 mm. long, with some considerably shorter, appressed and pointing forward along the branch.

Staminate cones reddish, pendant and catkin-like, 7-20 mm. long, on the lower side of branches near the middle of the tree or above; ovulate cones only near the top of the tree, single and erect, ellipsoidal, deep purple to green, 8-10 cm. long and 3.5-4 cm. thick, the subtending bracts concealed by the scales.