Great Basin Bristlecone Pine
Pinus longaeva
Last reviewed: September 2026
Toxicity unknown
Great Basin Bristlecone Pine (Pinus longaeva) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
780"–3120" H × 240"–1200" W
Bloom
N/A
Native to
CA, NV, UT
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
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The Great Basin bristlecone pine is an extremely slow-growing, long-lived evergreen tree that can eventually reach massive proportions over centuries. In cultivation, it typically remains much smaller but still requires decades to develop significant size. This ancient species has distinctive needle clusters and deeply furrowed bark.
In an HOA neighborhood
Great Basin Bristlecone Pine takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Extremely slow growth makes it impractical for most residential timelines
- Can eventually become massive and overwhelm typical lot sizes
- May appear sparse or unusual to HOA boards expecting conventional landscaping
Wildlife value
Provides shelter and nesting sites for birds, though it offers limited nectar or pollen resources. The seeds may occasionally feed small wildlife, but this tree is not a major pollinator or wildlife magnet.
Common questions
- How much sun does Great Basin Bristlecone Pine need?
- Great Basin Bristlecone Pine grows best in full sun conditions.
- Where is Great Basin Bristlecone Pine native?
- Great Basin Bristlecone Pine (Pinus longaeva) is native to CA, NV, UT, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
- Is Great Basin Bristlecone Pine HOA-friendly?
- Great Basin Bristlecone Pine takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Great Basin Bristlecone Pine? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
Planning a bed around it? Start a free plan with this plant
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