Pinus aristata
Bristlecone pine

Hardiness: Cold hardy to USDA Zone 4. Water use: Low to very low. Light: Full sun. Size: 40 feet tall by 25 feet wide. Plant habit: Small, dense, conical, evergreen tree. Native range: Southwestern United States. Needles: Stiff needles in tight groups of 5; 1 to 2" long. Needles are dark green and covered with prominent dots of white resin. Needles can live for more than 20 years before dropping, giving the branches the appearance of bottle brushes. Cones: Woody cones about 4 inches long.  Covered in resin and with a stiff bristle at the end of each cone scale. Culture: Very easy to grow. Tolerates wind, drought, cold, and extreme temperature swings. Grows in a wide range of soil pH. Pests/Diseases:  Relatively free of insect and disease problems. Resistant to white pine blister rust. Other: Slow growing. Long lived.