European stone pine

A species of conifer in the genus Pinus of the family Pinaceae. It grows in the southern regions of France to the eastern Alps; to the north the range extends to Lake Geneva. It also grows in the Carpathians and the High Tatras. Occurs in mountains at altitudes of 1500-2000 m. In northern areas it grows on south and southeast-facing slopes. The most frost-hardy pine of all pine species. Lives up to 400 years (sometimes up to 800).

Morphologically similar to Siberian stone pine, but differs by its smaller stature, broad ovoid crown, long and thin needles, and smaller cones and seeds.

First described in 1786, and in cultivation since 1855. It is a medium-height tree (10-25 m). Tree slow-growing, annual increment 15-25 cm in height and 10 cm in width. At 30 years it reaches 3-4 m in height. Crown broad, ovoid, 4-8 m in diameter. Trunk sturdy, up to 1.5 m in diameter, in old trees sometimes contorted. Root system well adaptable, shallow or deep. Bark on young trees smooth, gray-green, with resinous blisters; with age becomes rough, fissured-scaly, and in maturity turns brown with reddish fissures between plates. Young shoots with dense rusty-yellow pubescence; one-year shoots greenish, ascending, rigid at the tips, densely pubescent, later becoming blackish-gray.

Needles 5-9 cm long, 0.8-1.2 mm thick, dense, stiff, bluish-green, in fascicles of 5. Persist on branches for 3-5 years.

Flowers in May-June. Male strobili yellow to reddish, 10 mm long and 5 mm thick. Female strobili ovoid-elongate, 1 cm long, purple-brown in color, borne at the tips of shoots. Cones ovoid, erect, on short stalks, 5-8 cm long, 3.5-6 cm wide; immature cones purple-green, later brownish-purple, mature dark brown. They mature in early September, in the second year after pollination. Fruiting begins at 20-25 years, in plantings at 50-60 years. Seeds up to 12 mm long, 6-7 mm thick, obovoid, slightly angled, reddish-brown, edible. Mass of 1000 seeds 140-370 g.

Hardiness zone 3a.

Cultivars: "Compacta Glauca", "Nana" or "Pygmea", 'Almrauschhutte', 'Almsteik', 'Alphorn', 'Alter Hund', 'Aurea', 'Aureovariegata', 'Austrian Mountain', 'Bambi', 'Bambino', 'Berggeist', 'Berghexe', 'Bergkonig', 'Bergkonigin', 'Bergzauber', 'Blue Mound', variegated (f. variegata), green (f. Viridis), single-needled (f. monophylla), columnar (f. columnaris)

Position: wind-resistant. Light-loving, but can also grow in shade. Prefers moderately moist, well-drained, clayey and stony soils.

Planting and pruning: planting and pruning are carried out as for Scots pine.

Propagation: propagated by seed.

Uses: Used for bonsai cultivation. Looks good as a specimen or in group plantings, in forest parks. Combines well with birches, junipers, larches, rowans, oaks, rhododendrons, holly, lespedeza, cherry laurel. Looks good near water bodies.