Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; southern British Columbia to the central Cascades and Wenatchee Mountains in Washington, east to Montana and Alberta.

Habitat: Generally near timberline, preferring north-facing slopes.

Cones: June-July (cone production)

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Wind

A small, often misshapen tree up to 20 m. tall.

Bark thin, deeply furrowed, flaking into reddish-brown scales; young twigs closely white- or yellowish-woolly for up to 3 years.

Needles in false whorls of 30-40 per spur, light bluish-green, 2.5-3.5 cm. long, 4-angled, deciduous.

Staminate cones single on short, lateral, naked branches, yellow, 1.5 cm. long; ovulate cones reddish-yellow to purplish-green, 3.5-4.5 cm. long, the scales somewhat woolly on the lower surface, exceeded by the dark purple to greenish-red bracts; the two cones often adjacent.