| General Description | Slow growing and a tree of great longevity. Believed to be one of the oldest living plants on Earth, Pinus aristata specimens have been found that are as old as 2,500 years. |
| ID Characteristic | Irregular shape with leaves that have a five needle bundle. Glaucous colour underneath. |
| Shape | Crown with branches that are ascending, whorled and dense. Infrequently, crown may grow procumbent. |
| Landscape | Excellent as the focal point of a garden, but also suitable for accent purposes. Its coarse texture provides contrast with finely textured plants. Avoid use in smoggy urban centres as it does not tolerate air pollution. |
| Cultivation | If pruning is necessary, only trim back the current seasons growth. |
| Pests | Subject to root decay when grow in cultivation as opposed to growth in the wild. |
| Notable Specimens | The Gardens of Fanshawe College, London, Ontario, Canada and The Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. Pinetum Park and Pine Lodge Gardens, Cornwall, England. |
| Habitat | Wide spread in the dry rocky slopes of California, at elevations of 3500 m. |
| Bark/Stem Description | When young, the bark is smooth and green but as the tree ages the bark becomes fissured and a rusty brown. |
| Leaf Description | The tree will hold its needles for 10-17 years. The needles are in groups of 5 usually stuck together by resin. Needles become thicker near the end of branches. |
| Fruit Description | Monoecious cones are 5 - 12 cm long. |
| Texture Description | Moderately coarse texture. |
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