Lodgepole pine tree breeding program
Last updated on March 9, 2026The lodgepole pine breeding and orchard program is one of the largest in British Columbia. The program's main focus is the interior variety of lodgepole pine found east of the Coast Mountains. Nearly half of all trees planted annually in B.C. are lodgepole pine with about 30 percent resulting from 26 seed orchards.
The lodgepole pine breeding program started in the 1970s with the establishment of one of the largest and most famous common garden studies in the world, known as the Illingworth Trials. Testing of trees for five different breeding programs started in the 1980s, all programs are now in advanced generations. The intention of the program is to produce fast-growing trees while maintaining good wood quality, proper tree form, disease resistance, and adequate levels of genetic variation for natural processes to deal with uncertain future challenges.
Project gallery
Progeny test
Government research scientists beside a 15-year-old lodgepole pine forward selection for the Prince George selection unit.
Forward selection
A scientist collected scion material from an 2nd cycle progeny test. The ‘forward selected’ individual was from one of the best families identified in the experiment.