Korean pine

A coniferous species of the genus Pinus, family Pinaceae. Grows in East Asia: northeastern China, in the Primorsky and Khabarovsk Krais, in the southeastern part of the Amur region, Korea, in central Japan, and also at altitudes of 1300-2750 m in the Alps and Carpathians. Lives up to 600 years.

In cultivation since 1846. It is a tall tree (40-50 m) with a crown diameter of 1.5-2 m. Annual growth is 10-25 cm in height and 10 cm in width. At age 35 it reaches about 7 m in height. Crown dense, compact, narrow-pyramidal or conical, symmetrical. Very ornamental. Becomes more open with age. Root system is poorly developed; a taproot and numerous lateral roots lie in the soil to a depth of up to 1 m. Young shoots are thin and densely covered with short reddish hairs. Bark scaly, brownish-bay with a reddish tint, thin. Wood has a beautiful texture, is light, fragrant, and easy to work.

Needles triangular in cross-section, 7-20 cm long and 1-1.5 mm wide, bluish-green in color, with rough-serrated ribs, in bundles of 5, sparse, stiff, with a blunt tip. They remain on the tree for 2-4 years.

Blooms in May-June. Male catkins are yellow, female ones reddish-purple. Cones large, up to 17 cm long and up to 8 cm wide, erect, initially grey-green, later brownish, elongated-ovoid in shape, with beautifully curved seed scales. Cones mature in August-October in the second year after pollination; when ripe the cones do not open and fall off together with the seeds. Begins fruiting at 25-30 years. Seeds are 1.5-1.7 cm long, dark brown, wingless, with a thick woody shell, edible. Average yield per tree is about 500 cones, which contain up to 140 nuts.

Hardiness zone 1a.

Cultivars: variegated (f. variegata), "Glauca" ("Glauca"), Amba, Anna, Avocadra, Baishan, Blue ball, Blue pyramid, Blue sapphire, Chainbai, China boy, Chityen, Compacta, Dongling, Dragon eye, Dwarf, Gee Broom, Jack Korbitt, Jilin, Lilu.

Location: prefers acidic, humus-rich, moderately nutrient-rich rocky soils. Wind-resistant. Light-loving, but when young can grow in light shade. Can tolerate slight waterlogging. Does not tolerate transplanting well at an advanced age.

Planting and pruning: planting and pruning are carried out as for common pine. Does not tolerate transplanting well at an advanced age.

Propagation: propagated by seeds. For spring sowing the seeds require stratification. For autumn sowing the seeds germinate very well. Sowing in the autumn without preparation or in spring after stratification: 1.5 months at +2°C; 1.5 months at +25°C and then again 2 months at +2°C. Freshly collected seeds are placed for the winter in trenches with sand. Germination

Uses: looks impressive as a solitary specimen and in groups. Used for decorating parks, forest plantations, and in garden plots.