Coniferous Trees in British Columbia

Some common conifers in British Columbia

Hello, and welcome back to our blog! Thanksgiving is just behind us which means we can finally start getting ready for the holidays. If you celebrate Christmas, then you’re likely starting the hunt for the perfect Christmas tree. Traditionally, people choose a pine tree as their designated holiday tree to adorn with lights and ornaments. However, there isn’t just one type of pine tree. In fact, there are many species that fall under what a pine, or coniferous, tree is.

As landscapers in White Rock, we’ve come across many types of coniferous trees! In the spirit of Christmas, we thought we’d go over some trees native to British Columbia! Maybe some of these sound familiar.

Lodgepole pine

Lodgepole pines are found throughout British Columbia and the upper Rocky Mountains. They’re known for their long and skinny aesthetic. The needles of this type of pine are clustered with about two needles per bundle and grow to about one to three inches in length. They come with small, circular shaped pine cones that grow to only one to three inches long. These tall trees grow in elevations up to 11,500 feet above sea level!

Ponderosa pine

Ponderosa pines, like their lodgepole cousins, grow all throughout the Pacific Northwest and down through the border of California and Nevada. These pine trees can grow in environments of 9,000 feet above sea level. Their needles grow in bunches of three and grow between five and six inches long, shedding only every three years. Their pine cones are also circular shaped and grow to a size between three and five inches.

Western white pine

Seen throughout Canada, Washington, Oregon, and some of California is the western white pine. This conifer is named as such because their needles, which come in bunches of five, are white on two sides of a three sided needle. The bark is dark brown and, on older trees, is shaped in rectangles or squares. On younger trees, the bark is smooth. The pinecones on western white pines grow anywhere between five and ten inches, and in a more cylindrical shape. These trees grow only to about 2,500 feet above sea level, a small elevation compared to their cousins.

Whitebark pine

The whitebark pine, surprisingly enough, is noted by its white bark. This tree also has needles that come in bunches of five and pinecones that are small and oval like. These trees can grow in high elevations, especially the ones here in Western Canada. These trees are pretty stubby and almost resemble shrubs.

Happy holidays, everyone! Whatever holiday you celebrate here in British Columbia, you can be sure of one thing: how beautiful the snow topped conifers are in the wintertime. If you’re celebrating Christmas and plan on decorating a tree in your home, take special notice of all of the wonderful pine trees in and around the neighborhood. As always, if you need help with landscaping in the Langley and White Rock area, contact your landscapers here at Fontana Ponds & Water Features! Thanks!