This extremely slow growing coniferous tree commonly has a malformed dark grey trunk and up turned branches that form a broad conical habit. It has short dark green needle-like leaves in dense clusters and produces purplish cones in spring.  

Hardiness zones 4 to 7 

Pinus aristata is naturally found in North America from the mountainous regions of Nevada to Colorado, northern Arizona to northern New Mexico growing to an altitude to 3600m (10800ft) in exposed rocky positions. At high altitudes it is variable and forms a stunted prostrate shrub. 

It prefers an open sunny position and grows naturally on thin sandy-stony moderately fertile soils and is pH adaptable. It is drought and frost tolerant but is intolerant of smoky or polluted air.

The Bristle Cone Pine is grown for its picturesque growth habit and is planted in gardens as a specimen or used in large rockeries. It is suitable for mountainous regions establishing in 4 to 7 years and can live for thousands of years. It is not commonly cultivated as an ornamental but can be used as a bonsai subject. ID 3071

Note:
Pinus aristata is regarded as the oldest living plant on the planet with estimates of age up to 5000 years. This slow growing tree gains 25mm (1in) in diameter in 100 years and the smooth greyish bark becomes fissured with age.

Pinus (PY-nus) aristata (a-ris-TAH-ta)

Pinaceae (py-NAY-see-ee)
Larches, spruces, pines, firs, hemlocks and cedars