Shore Pine- Native species extraordinaire! Share your knowledge and progress with this species.

[River's Edge]

I consider the Shore Pine to be one of the best North American candidates for Bonsai and yet they are not so well represented in the Bonsai community and definitely not in the literature. A quick search through my library revealed very little attention has been paid to the lowly Shore Pine. I think it deserves to be celebrated and shared with the greater bonsai community worldwide. A single flush pine with short dark green needles, wonderful bark, natural movement surely deserves consideration. You are invited to contribute pictures, experience and techniques to this thread. Others deserve to become acquainted with this wonderful pine species.

Pinus contorta - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I am working with Pinus Contorta, Contorta , the variety common to the shore environment from California to Alaska. I will start it off with one of my favourites, collected here on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada. Still under development to compact and reduce foliage. Current needle length 1 1/4 inch. Overall height 16 inches. Trunk diameter 2 inches at base.

 

[Drewski]

Ryan at Mirai has been working on these as well. Between you and him, I now have a strong desire to get one. I’ve been looking around the local nurseries, but have only found one so far. I didn’t grab it, and have kept looking for a better one. When life gets back to normal I may have to catch a ferry to come see what you have available.

 

[Adair M]

I agree, Frank, Shore pine is wonderful! Are they not closely related to Lodgepole pine?

Neither are common over here in the East.

A couple of years ago, there was a beautiful Shore Pine in the BIB show.

 

[River's Edge]

Ryan at Mirai has been working on these as well. Between you and him, I now have a strong desire to get one. I’ve been looking around the local nurseries, but have only found one so far. I didn’t grab it, and have kept looking for a better one. When life gets back to normal I may have to catch a ferry to come see what you have available.

I suspect the nurseries have landscape cultivars. I have seen a few dwarf cultivars of Pinus contorta, however they never seem to have the wild characteristics of collected tree's. My first shore pine was a small twisted specimen that seemed to barely eek out a living in nature. However it suited a rock planting after years of adaptation and bringing it back to health. Tree was under six inches in the twisted form.

 

[River's Edge]

I agree, Frank, Shore pine is wonderful! Are they not closely related to Lodgepole pine?

Neither are common over here in the East.

A couple of years ago, there was a beautiful Shore Pine in the BIB show.

Hi Adair, they are a lodge pole pine, one of the four sub species! The range is limited to coastal areas primarily with a map contained in the wikipedia link in post #1. Found in a narrow line along the west coast of California and broadening along the coast up through Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Alaska.
Their natural habitat is often exposed to harsh winds, rain and heavy snowfall. This environment can create wonderfully twisted shapes and natural shari. Some microclimates seem to produce very thick and flaky bark. One of the challenges can be to limit growth to prevent excessive loss of this bark from the trunk line.
During development and adaptation the needle size can increase temporarily until further compaction and density is attained. They do reduce back down readily with proper technique and timing of fertilization.
Here is an example of natural shari on the lower portion of the trunk, this specimen was collected in 2014, so far the only work done on this tree is root adaptation 2014 to 2017, partial removal of native soil ( 2017) and the rest of the native soil plus repot to change the planting angle ( 2021) to prepare for styling. The collected form was flattened to the ground. With proper recovery, wiring and styling will take place this coming winter 21/22.

 

[River's Edge]

The reddish area represents their range on the west coast of North America. Northern tip of California to the southern tip of Alaska.

 

[ghues]

Many thanks for starting this thread. We are very lucky to have these trees in our backyard.
Here are three of mine and a photo showing the various needle lengths from each.

 

[River's Edge]

Hey Graham, I see you are playing with the background and lighting. How are you enjoying the new set up? Your needle picture reminded me that I forgot to mention the slight twist often present in the needle form. The last picture you show is a common literati form found in this species. Here is one of the ones I collected in 2019 that has a natural literati style. So far I have worked on adaptation of roots and changing the planting angle. this is another tree that was pretty flat in its natural form. This is a good example of longer needles after fertilization through the recovery after collection. Very little work done on this tree so far, just some siring to open up for health and promoting back budding.

 

[Drewski]

@River's Edge As I recall, it was a cultivar but I don’t remember the name of it. It definitely didn’t live up to the contorta like yours do.

 

[Potawatomi13]

Ryan at Mirai has been working on these as well. Between you and him, I now have a strong desire to get one. I’ve been looking around the local nurseries, but have only found one so far. I didn’t grab it, and have kept looking for a better one. When life gets back to normal I may have to catch a ferry to come see what you have available.

You should hit up Anton Niehuis of Vancouver Is. A great collector of Yamadoris and most reasonable prices.

 

[River's Edge]

@River's Edge As I recall, it was a cultivar but I don’t remember the name of it. It definitely didn’t live up to the contorta like yours do.

I think Yamadori are in a class of their own far removed from commercial nursery trees. Contact me through the website if you wish to visit. Or if you like my next Open House Event is June 5th and 6th. Details will be posted in the news section of the website.
http:/riversedgebonsai.ca

 

[River's Edge]

One more example of Shore Pine, collected by a friend of mine in 2012. Beginning on its styling and refinement journey. Recently repotted to create a more upright planting angle. Will stay in the Anderson flat for two or three years and then transition to a smaller maintenance pot to aid in the reduction of needle size and prepare for a suitable size permanent pot. Assorted views to show features, the full size image is the most recent after repot and initial wiring.

 

[Bavarian Raven]

I’m a fan of both but lodgepole (they’re subspecies I believe) are easier to obtain and fun to play around with. Plus they can take drought fairly well.

 

[0soyoung]

Referring to Frank's map,

Pink/red:

Pinus contorta (var.) contorta = shore pine​

there are dwarf forms, the best known is Spaan's dwarf​

​

Green:

Pinus contorta (var.) latifolia = lodgepole pine OR Rocky Mountain lodgepole (famously tall ones in Yellowstone NP)​

Purple:

Pinus contorta (var) murrayana (Sierra Lodgepole Pine)​

Pinus contorta (var) bolanderi (Mendocino White Plains Lodgepole Pine).​

Collectively,
pinus contorta = lodgepole pine

The helpful thing for me (because I am dendrologically challenged) is that shore pine is the only two-needle pine native to my neck of the woods. The differences between the latifolia in the cascades and the shorepines I was looking at just this morning, is needle length.


I shan't be showing any pix though I still have a number of latifolia and a Spaan's dwarf that I removed from my landscape and popped into a pot about 2 years ago.

 

[ghues]

Here are a few of mine enjoying the morning and one on the working bench. Just noticed that I prefer Bunjin

 

[Esolin]

Do Shore Pines require winter dormancy to survive? Few short needle species seem to do well in Southern California. I'd love to find something that looks like Mugo or Scotts pine, but that will thrive in zone 10.

 

[River's Edge]

Do Shore Pines require winter dormancy to survive? Few short needle species seem to do well in Southern California. I'd love to find something that looks like Mugo or Scotts pine, but that will thrive in zone 10.

The range shows them in Northern California so they may adapt. I would check with clubs in California to see what their experience has been.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Hi Adair, they are a lodge pole pine, one of the four sub species! The range is limited to coastal areas primarily with a map contained in the wikipedia link in post #1. Found in a narrow line along the west coast of California and broadening along the coast up through Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Alaska.
Their natural habitat is often exposed to harsh winds, rain and heavy snowfall. This environment can create wonderfully twisted shapes and natural shari. Some microclimates seem to produce very thick and flaky bark. One of the challenges can be to limit growth to prevent excessive loss of this bark from the trunk line.
During development and adaptation the needle size can increase temporarily until further compaction and density is attained. They do reduce back down readily with proper technique and timing of fertilization.
Here is an example of natural shari on the lower portion of the trunk, this specimen was collected in 2014, so far the only work done on this tree is root adaptation 2014 to 2017, partial removal of native soil ( 2017) and the rest of the native soil plus repot to change the planting angle ( 2021) to prepare for styling. The collected form was flattened to the ground. With proper recovery, wiring and styling will take place this coming winter 21/22.

View attachment 360967

Frank, do you have an isolated thread on this tree? If so, Id like to follow, as it is in the same stage as mine, and a good comparable, if a bit fuller.

 

[River's Edge]

Frank, do you have an isolated thread on this tree? If so, Id like to follow, as it is in the same stage as mine, and a good comparable, if a bit fuller.

View attachment 370630

sorry, I have not started individual tree threads.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

sorry, I have not started individual tree threads.

All good. Ill keep an eye on this thread for advice. The candles on the tree are looking much better this year. Ill take some pictures in the morning.