Needle development has been investigated in Pinus cembra at several locations in the Grisons. Special attention has been paid to longevity and senescence. Despite large variations from one tree to another, longevity (up to 12 years) appeared to increase with increasing altitude. With increasing age, contents of nutrients such as N, P, K and, to a lesser extent, Mg and S tend to decrease. Photosynthetic activity did not decline with increasing age of short shoots. Senescence begins in mid-August in needles of the oldest age classes. It is associated with the mobilization and withdrawal of large proportions of N, P, K and also Mg and S, but Ca appears to be immobile. The extent of yellowing is irregular in individual trees but needle losses on a large scale are followed by reduced losses in subsequent years.