This chapter provides an overview regarding the lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Douglas ex Loudon) from the perspective of its ecological demands and the possibilities of its silvicultural utilization in Central European conditions. Described are its natural habitat, variability, ecological properties, and the environmental demands (natural mixtures, geological needs, soil, temperature, humidity, etc.). Attention is given to characterizing the wood in terms of its production, properties, and possible uses. Furthermore, important aspects of this pine's cultivation are described as an aspect of forest management, as well as from the viewpoint of the species' utilization in reclamation of infertile anthropogenic substrates. Particular emphasis is given to current knowledge obtained through provenance research in relevant European countries. In connection with the changing climate in Central Europe, this pine tree can gradually gain in importance because it is a tree species with wide ecological adaptability. In spite of its lower production potential, the species is capable of creating stands on habitats that will be inappropriate in the future for many autochthonous Central European species.

In 2021, measurements were done at two international provenance research trials for silver fir originating from the same series of experiments. The investigation was carried out in the location Vítkov and Úsov, where both trials were established. Biometric data (tree height, diameter at breast height) were measured and qualitative traits (stem shape, occurrence of stem forking, stem damage, bark pattern, and defoliation) were assessed during the early mature stage of the experiment. Overbark stem volume and per-hectare standing volume were also calculated. Sixty-five provenances of domestic and foreign origin were evaluated in both trials. Although the results do not indicate unequivocally the most suitable or most productive provenance in the trials, provenances of Czech origin including the ones originating from the surrounding natural forest areas perform consistently better than the average. The least productive provenances, on the other hand, were those from parts of Bulgaria, Austria, and especially Italy, which achieved the poorest results even in stem shape. In Czech conditions, therefore, Italian fir provenances have not proved so successful as they have in the United Kingdom.

The article evaluates 27 provenances of three subspecies of lodgepole pine on the Kovářská research plot (Krušné hory Mts.). The plot is part of a series of three established plots in various stand conditions. Two plots were already evaluated and the findings were published. At 34 years of age, we evaluated height, DBH, trunk shape, trunk forking, branch thickness, bark type, mortality, and defoliation. A total of 1,147 trees were measured. Above-average growth was achieved predominantly by the provenances of Pinus contorta subsp. latifolia (Engelmann ex S. Watson) Critchfield from middle elevations. In the Pinus contorta subsp. contorta Douglas ex Loudon, only the 2099 Port Orford provenance from Oregon demonstrated favourable results, and in the Pinus contorta subsp. murrayana (Balfour) Engelmann it was 2098 Chemult. High mortality was demonstrated mainly in the P. c. subsp. murrayana provenance from high mountainous elevations in California and P. c. subsp. contorta from coastal regions of Oregon. Provenances from middle elevations had relatively lower mortality, especially P. c. subsp. latifolia. The pines usually were of good quality although this was not the case for defoliation and branch thickness. In comparing all plots of the series, growth was fastest at the Sofronka location in western Bohemia and slowest at the south Bohemian Mláka location. Only the best provenances of lodgepole pine can equal the domestic Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris Linnaeus).