The bark of this pine species can range from gray to cinnamon red. These rich tones complement its blue to yellow-green needle-like foliage. The pine needles grow in bundles of five and reach 1 to 2 inches in length. The foxtail pine does not often produce many large branches but instead grows smaller branches from the main trunk, giving it a bushy fox tail appearance. The cones produced start out purple in color, then mature to red-brown and reach 5 inches in length. These trees are very hardy and thrive in high altitudes and on steep slopes. These slow-growing trees have a very long lifespan; some trees within this species are up to 3,000 years old. Accustomed to rocky mountainsides, the foxtail pine is tolerant of wind and steep slopes. They are not often bothered by many pests or diseases but may battle with mountain pine beetles and white pine blister rust.
Light
Full to partial sun is best to keep these trees thriving. They often enjoy morning sun and partial or filtered afternoon sunshine.
Soil
These trees naturally grow in areas with rocky, slightly acidic, low-nutrient soil. Providing well-draining soil similar to this natural habitat will help foxtail pine trees thrive. This can be a bit tricky in the garden, but these unique trees respond well to perlite amended soil. They do not handle clay soil very well.
Water
Foxtail pines flourish in areas with little water, making them drought-tolerant. To mimic these conditions, water deeply and infrequently, allowing the soil to dry in-between waterings. Depending on your specific climate conditions, this may be every other week or so.
Temperature and Humidity
Naturally found at very high elevations, the foxtail pine is accustomed to hot days and cold nights. This makes the warm summer nights in lower elevations more challenging. To help with this, position this type of tree in a spot with afternoon shade, which allows for cooler temperatures as the evening arrives. Foxtail pine trees do best with average humidity levels.
Fertilizer
Fertilizing young trees with phosphorus-based fertilizer will encourage healthy root development. However, because these trees grow in areas with very low nutrients, fertilization is not necessary for healthy growth.
Propagating Foxtail Pine
Propagation can be done by means of cuttings; for pine trees, its usually best to do since from mid-fall to mid-winter. Follow these steps:
How to Grow Foxtail Pine From Seed
Foxtail pine seeds can be started indoors or directly sown into the garden. To start them indoors, follow these steps: To start seeds outdoors, follow these steps:
Potting and Repotting Foxtail Pine
Though these trees grow to be very tall, they are slow-growing and can be kept in containers when young. When choosing a container, be sure it has good drainage. Fill the pot with well-draining soil and water deeply and infrequently. As the tree grows, you may need to move it to a larger container or plant it into the ground. To do this, gently tip the container onto its side and tap the outside to loosen the roots. Slide the tree out and transfer to a new pot, being sure to provide water and suitable light conditions.
Overwintering
These trees are very hardy and are accustomed to the cold temperatures of high elevations. No extra attention is required for these trees to successfully survive the winter.
