Foxtail Pine is a high-elevation, five-needled pine found in two separate populations in California — one in the Klamath Mountains and one in the southern Sierra Nevada. It closely resembles the Bristlecone Pine in its wind-sculpted, ancient appearance and its preference for harsh, rocky, high-elevation sites. The needles are densely packed on short shoots, giving branches a distinctive foxtail-like appearance. Individual trees can live 1,000 to 2,000 years, making them among the longest-lived trees in North America.
Best time to see a Foxtail Pine
The best time to see a Foxtail Pine is June–August, when about 61% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 6,606 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Foxtail Pine? What plant is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Foxtail Pine sightings near you
Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.
Spot a Foxtail Pine? Identify it instantly.
Point Huck at any plant, bird, or animal for an instant ID, its rarity, and a live map of where it is being seen near you.
Get HuckGet an alert when a Foxtail Pine is spotted
Pick a park, state, or city and we’ll email you when one turns up there. One check a day, only when there’s something new.
Free. Unsubscribe from any email. See our Privacy Policy.
Love plants? Get Huck field notes
Spotting tips, new species, and the best of what people are finding in the wild - straight to your inbox.