Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.

Habitat: Moderate to high elevations in the mountains, mostly where somewhat moist.

Cones: New cones from June-August

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Wind

Straight, spire-like trees up to 50 m. tall, the trunk up to 1 m. thick

Bark rather thin, scaly, brownish-red to purplish; young twigs usually finely pubescent, often glabrous.

Needles fairly sharp but not stiff, 2-3 cm. long, deep bluish-green, spreading in all directions from the branch, 4-angled, with two whitish lines on both surfaces, attached to a raised base.

Staminate cones pendant, yellow, 10-15 mm. long; ovulate cones 4-5 cm. long, yellow-brown to purplish-brown, the scales finely denticulate, more than twice as long as the oblong bracts and completely concealing them; ovulate cones deciduous as a whole after one season.