Italian stone pine

A species of conifer from the genus Pine of the family Pinaceae. Distributed along the entire Mediterranean coast from the Iberian Peninsula to Asia Minor. In the mountainous areas of Spain and Italy it rises to altitudes up to 1000 m. Also found in Germany and Central Europe, on the southern coast of Crimea, the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, eastern Transcaucasia and Georgia. Lives more than 500 years.

In cultivation since 1814. Represents a medium-sized tree 20-30 m in height. Fast-growing in youth. Crown compact, umbrella-shaped. Branches horizontal, with upturned ends. In young trees the crown is rounded and the branches are directed obliquely upwards. The trunk of old trees is reddish-gray, the bark long-fissured, strongly peeling, separating in large plates. In young trees the bark is smooth, light gray.

Young shoots gray-green or pale yellow to yellow-brown, often glaucous, not downy. Buds grow at the tips of shoots, acute-ovoid in shape, covered with light brown scales, margins irregularly toothed, 6-12 mm long, not resinous. Bud apices are curved upward, elongated, brown with a silvery fringe. Forms a good taproot.

Needles dense, 10-15 cm long and 1.5-2 mm wide, erect, dark green throughout the year, sometimes glaucous, borne in bundles of 2, compact.

Flowers in June-July. Male strobili up to 1 cm long, ovoid, produced in large numbers. Female cones solitary, rarely occurring in pairs or threes, ovoid or globose in shape, 8-15 cm long and up to 10 cm in diameter, pendulous on short stalks, somewhat pointed at the apex and with an indented base. They ripen in the third year in October and open the following spring. After seed dispersal they remain on the tree for another 2-3 years. Scales woody, dense, weakly pyramidal, slightly raised. The shields of the lower scales are hexagonal, with radial ribs, forming a longitudinal keel. Seeds large, 15-2 cm in length and 7-11 mm in width, elongated-ovoid in shape, dark brown, sometimes with light spots, dull, oily, slightly grooved, so one side is convex and the other – flat. Edible. The shell is thick. Without a wing or with a rudiment of a wing on the thickened part in the form of a membranous rim. Seeds of Pinus pinea are the largest in the genus Pinus. 1 kg contains 1500 pieces. Yield is high – from 1 ha one obtains 3-8 t of seeds. In Italy the seeds of Pinus pinea are called pineoli.

Cultivars: Silver Crest.

Hardiness zone: 7b.

Location: prefers dry, warm and loose soil. Grows well on sandy or dry calcareous soils. Sun-loving, drought-tolerant. Can grow in places with annual precipitation up to 300 mm. Withstands short-term frosts down to -18 degrees Celsius. Does not tolerate excessive moisture, requires drainage. Wind-resistant, but persistent strong wind changes the crown shape to a more elongated form.

Planting and pruning: planting and pruning are carried out similarly to those for Scots pine. For formative pruning it is best to use a broom-like style with a wide and flat crown.

Propagation: readily propagated by seed. Seeds germinate without pre-sowing treatment.

Diseases and pests: severely damaged by mealybugs.

Uses: Used for cultivation in the bonsai style. Has very decorative needles, crown shape and cones. Enriches the landscape of seaside areas and is used for decorating architectural structures. Also planted along roads and alleys to provide shade. Looks impressive in parks when planted as solitary trees or in groups in open sites. Looks beautiful in contrast with columnar cypresses.