Pinus contorta var. latifolia x banksiana 'Golden Stryker'

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Key characteristics

Family: Pinaceae
Height: 2 to 3.5 ft
Width: 3 to 6 ft
Flower color: Yellow pollen cones
Foliage color: Long, two-needled foliage with intense golden-yellow new growth, softening to yellow-green
Bloom time: Spring, with yellow cones
Light: Full sun to light shade
Water: Average
Maintenance: Low; slow growing, generally pest and disease resistant
Growing zone: USDA zones 5 to 8
Wildlife: Dense evergreen structure offers shelter for small birds and other wildlife; cones and seeds may be used by birds and small mammals

Shrubs

Pinus contorta var. latifolia x banksiana 'Golden Stryker'

Golden Stryker Lodgepole Pine

Pinus contorta var. latifolia x banksiana 'Golden Stryker' is a dwarf evergreen pine with long, glowing needles and a broad, spreading habit. New growth in spring and early summer is bright golden yellow, maturing to softer yellow-green and warm yellow-orange in winter. Small, inconspicuous pollen cones appear in late spring, so the display centers on foliage color through the year.

Believed to be a hybrid between Pinus contorta var.

Light

Full sun to light shade

Water

Average

Bloom time

Spring, with yellow cones

Find this plant

Works well in

Sun Gardens
Rock Gardens
Slopes & Banks
Bird Gardens

Companion plants

Avens · Strawberry tree · Betony · Blue grama grass · Thyme · Butterfly bush

Design tip

Golden foliage is most effective when contrasted with deeper greens, allowing ‘Golden Stryker’ to create a bright horizontal accent within a conifer planting. Its color evolves from brilliant yellow in spring to softer yellow-green and warm yellow-orange, providing subtle seasonal variation.