Pinus wallichiana (Wallich's pine)

The species was named after the English and Danish surgeon and botanist Nathaniel Wallich. It was introduced to Europe in 1823 by the English botanist E. B. Lambert. In the wild it grows in the Himalayas, on the mountain systems of the Karakoram and Hindu Kush, from eastern Afghanistan to the Yunnan province of China, at altitudes of 1800-4300 m above sea level. In nature it forms extensive forests with Himalayan spruce and Himalayan cedar. It lives up to 300 years.

A medium-tall (30-50 m) fast-growing tree 8-20 m wide. Annual growth 35-60 cm in height and 15-20 cm in width. The root system is powerful, shallow-spreading. The crown is open, loose, broadly pyramidal, branches horizontal, spreading, in the wild reaching the ground. Bark smooth and dark gray when young, later becoming dark ashy gray, fissured, with peeling plates. Young shoots are glossy, bare, yellowish-green.

Needles are in bundles of five, thin, long (12-18 cm), 0.75 cm wide, on young shoots standing erect, on older ones hanging down, sharp, bluish-green (glaucous), with white stomatal lines on the inner side, margins softly truncated. They persist on the tree for 3-4 years.

Blooms in late April. Cones 16-32 cm long and 5-7 cm wide, erect when young, at maturity pendulous, cylindrical, straight or slightly curved, light brown with resin drops, borne on a 2-5 cm stalk. Cones ripen in the second year in October. Seeds ovate, 5-6 mm long, brown, seed wing 20-30 mm long.

Hardiness zone 6b.

Cultivars: Griffitha, Densa Hill, Frosty, Nana, Paktia, Winter Light, Zebrina.

Location: Young plants need winter protection. Tolerates urban conditions only conditionally. Requires a sheltered, wind-protected site. Does not tolerate heavy snow well. Grows on all cultivated soils, even sandy. Prefers moderately moist, fertile, well-drained substrates, from acidic to neutral. Light-loving, but does not tolerate direct sun well. Does not like drought and heat. In indoor culture requires a cool wintering period.

Planting: planting hole depth – 0.8-1 m. Distance between plants at least 4 m. On heavy soils with excess moisture it is recommended to make drainage 20 cm thick. Soil mix: sand, peat and topsoil in ratio 2:1:1 – for planting in neutral reaction soil. For acidic soils add 200-300 g of lime per hole. Add superphosphate 150 g per hole to the planting mix, and in autumn – phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.

Care: In the second year after planting it is necessary to apply a complete fertilizer, and in the second half of summer – phosphorus-potassium fertilizers 40-50 g per 10 l of water.

Pruning: sanitary pruning. When doing formative pruning it is recommended to remove no more than 1/3 of the green mass. To increase crown density, removal of one-third of the current year's growth is used while maintaining the crown shape. Do not leave bare branches without needles. Formative pruning should not be carried out earlier than one year after planting. Pruning is recommended from early spring to late autumn.

Propagation: propagated by seeds.

Diseases and pests: resistant to rust fungus.

Usage: Looks spectacular in group plantings in parks, along alleys, and is also attractive as a solitary specimen in open sites. Stands out in contrast against other trees with dark foliage or needles: Norway spruce, evergreen cypress, large-flowered magnolia, horse chestnut. Can be used for creating bonsai.