14 Montana Native Trees: Ones That Add Vibrancy 

Montana native trees are some of the most resilient and hardy species of trees in the United States. These trees not only bring beauty to the landscape but also provide a wide variety of environmental benefits.

In this post, we will be exploring the various native plants of Montana as well as their unique characteristics, read through this post to learn details about these plants.

Various Types of Montana Native Trees

1. Ponderosa Pine

Ponderosa pine is a native plant found throughout the western United States, including Montana. This hardy evergreen can reach heights of about 80 feet and has large, long needles that grow in bundles of three. 

This tree is also known as the Pinus ponderosa in botany, and its bark varies from a jigsaw pattern of orange to yellow-brown. It is a great tree that you can plant with well-draining soil, and make sure that the light you are providing is a direct one. 

2. Lodgepole Pine

Lodgepole pine aka Pinus contorta var. latifolia is a species of evergreen conifer native to western North America. It is found in Montana and throughout much of the Northern Rocky Mountains from British Columbia to New Mexico with its southernmost range being Wyoming.

As long as the soil is rich one that is moist and has well-draining characteristics, the plant will thrive, although it is also known to grow in infertile soil too, due to its resilient nature. In addition, the sun that it needs much be a bright one, which is why you would see it thrive in spring and summer. 

3. Western Larch

Western larch or Larix occidentalis is a native tree species to the state of Montana and is part of the family Pinaceae. This large deciduous conifer grows up to 100 feet in height when the right conditions are met and the tree is kept healthy. 

It is relatively drought-tolerant, making it an excellent choice for landscapes seeking year-round color and form. On another note, this tree is prone to some pest attacks, such as spittle bugs, or larch case bearers, but you must ensure to provide the right requirements so that the tree wouldn’t become weak.

4. Rocky Mountain Juniper

The Rocky Mountain juniper is a native evergreen tree of the western United States and Canada, found primarily in Montana and Wyoming. This is one of the most commonly grown trees, because of its beautiful scale-like leaves that would grow in spring and fall, and in winter, it goes through a dormant period. 

It grows in the dry mountainous regions of those two states and can reach heights that would vary between two and 20 feet. Remember to place the tree in a location that is sunny, and place it in soil that is neutral in its pH and has a sandy texture. 

5. Subalpine Fir

Subalpine fir is also known as Abies lasiocarpa in the world of botany. This tree is one of the  native species to the Rocky Mountains, including Montana. Its conifer grows in high elevations and prefers cool, moist, and shady conditions. 

The beautiful tree is characterized by the thick, scaly bark that ranges from gray-brown to red-brown. Moreover, it is prone to live in summer and winter, because it can tolerate different climates and thrive. 

6. Engelmann Spruce

Engelmann spruce or Picea engelmannii is a coniferous tree native to Montana and the Rocky Mountains region of North America. It is often found in moist and cool-temperate climates at elevations from 5,000 to 11,500 feet above sea level in montane forests. 

This tree is famous for growing so tall, and the tree has blue or green shades, and it also has needle-like leaves that would look like they are twigs. They are able to grow about 90 feet tall and spread wide too. 

7. Limber Pine

Limber pine aka Pinus flexilis is a slow-growing, long-lived evergreen tree native to the western regions of North America. In Montana, limber pine trees naturally inhabit mountain canyons, mixed coniferous woodlands, and large open parks within subalpine meadows.

When you want to grow this tree in your garden, make sure that you would locate it in a place where it would see full to partial shades of the sun. On the other hand, the soil should also be a well draining one, where it will not keep excess water in the roots, although it should have a proper amount of humidity. 

8. Douglas Fir

Native to Montana, Douglas fir aka Pseudotsuga menziesii is a coniferous tree belonging to the genus Pseudotsuga. Growing up to 120 feet tall and eight feet in diameter, it is one of the largest evergreen trees in North America. 

Its long trunk has thick reddish-orange bark and its branches are covered with soft green needles. These trees are one of the most loved kinds because they would resist the cold weather and would still grow in fall, winter, and spring. Moreover, in summer, you must keep the soil moist, because the heat is not what it would tolerate for so long. 

9. Grand Fir

The grand fir is native to Montana and is an easy-to-recognize coniferous tree. Its bark has a reddish-brown color, deep furrows, and a distinct and pleasing odor, that would get pollinated through the wind in spring. It grows extremely tall with a pyramidal shape, often reaching heights of up to 100 feet.

This tree is known to grow in moist soil with an acidic range, and when it comes to its watering, make sure that you would water it more in summer, and less in winter. Make sure that you do not overwater the tree; for instance, in spring, it will be properly irrigated by the rainwater, which means it is not necessary for you to add more to it. 

10. Aspen

Aspen is a widely distributed tree species native to Montana, that can be found growing in dispersed open-canopy forests and parks across the state. The aspen tree’s fibrous root systems often form dense clonal colonies which grow rapidly due to their efficient use of water resources and their flexible genetic makeup. Be cautious of the scale, leaf miners and saw flies that may cause a pest infestation and damage the health of the tree. You can do some great landscaping with Aspen trees too!

11. Thimbleberry

Thimbleberry is a native deciduous shrub of Montana and is renowned for its edible berries that grow in the spring and summer months. Growing up to ten feet tall, it features bright green foliage that turns red in the winter, along with its abundant clusters of white bell-shaped flowers.

Aphids are a threat to the health of this tree; however, if you aim to get rid of them, the tree will be less vulnerable. To see it growing in a sufficient way, then you should provide it with moist soil but make sure to irrigate it when the soil feels dry. 

12. Common Snowberry

The common snowberry a deciduous shrub native to Montana is commonly found throughout the western United States and is well-adapted to its cold winter climate. Its pointed lance-shaped evergreen leaves are opposite in position with smooth margins and can turn an orange-red color, and they will most likely grow in winter and thrive with the right conditions, well-draining soil, and partial sunlight. 

13. Mountain Hemlock

The mountain hemlock, native to Montana and other states in the Pacific Northwest, is a species of hemlock that boast robust growth with dark green evergreen needles with broad bases and acute tips. They produce small brown cones that stand erect at the end of twigs.

This tree would grow as long as 10 feet tall, and would last for a great number of years. In order to accomplish this, you should provide it with the right requirements, and ensure that you would protect it from moths and caterpillars. 

14. White Spruce

White spruce is an evergreen coniferous tree native to the montane forests of Montana, as well as much of North America. It can reach heights of up to 80 feet, with branches that turn upwards and downwards in a regular, zigzag pattern.

When you invest in this tree, remember that it is prone to grow a great number of years, with its needle-like and four-sided spikes. This tree is also one that would produce large cones, and if the conditions are met for its health, it would grow 13 inches annually. 

Conclusion

This list of Montana native trees showed some necessary information that you might find interesting.

To sum up the plants in this list:

• Most of these plants such as western larch, grand fir, etc. grow around a hundred feet tall.
• Some plants such as the douglas fir can grow more than a hundred feet.
• Rocky Mountain juniper is a tree that is on the shorter side with a height of around 20 feet.

Now, all the native trees are listed for you, and you have a very detailed understanding of them. Let us know which plants native to Montana in this list you found the most interesting.

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