Black pine

A species of the genus Pine in the family Pinaceae. Naturally occurs in the northern Mediterranean, Morocco and Algeria. The species became known in Europe from 1759. Black pine lives 600-800 years.

A medium-tall tree reaching 25-55 m in height. Annual increment 30-55 cm. In youth it has a pyramidal crown form; in maturity an umbrella-shaped, spreading crown with ascending branches.

Young shoots gray-brown, 5-10 mm thick, glabrous, glossy, by the end of the first summer becoming dark gray-brown. Buds 25 mm long, 4-9 mm wide, ovoid-conical, acute, resinous, brown, margined with reflexed scales with white fringes. Scales tightly appressed, broad, coriaceous, finely serrate at the margins. The bark deeply furrowed, black-gray.

Needles twisted at the base, directed upwards, stiff, pointed, with moderately serrated margins, a rich dark-green color, 8-14 cm long, up to 2 mm wide, borne two per fascicle. Persist on the tree for 4-5 years.

Blooms in late April – early May. Male flowers are yellow catkins; female flowers are greenish-red cones of ovoid, sometimes slightly elongated shape, 5-7.5 cm long, 2-3.5 cm wide, yellow-brown, glossy, later gray-brown, on short peduncles, borne horizontally on branches. Cones open in the third year. Mature in late September – early October. Seeds 5-6 mm long, yellowish-gray, oblong-ovoid. Wing light brown with brown stripes, 25 mm long. Seed germination 30-60%.

Cultivars and forms:Pinus nigra ssp. Salzmannii, (Helda', 'Marie Bregeon', 'Вrеро', ‘Hornibrookiana'), Pinus nigra 'Moseri' (Var. Руramidata, Руgmaea, Ssр. Рallasiana, Ssр. Nigra, Nana, Мonstrosa, Ssр. Laricio, Jeddeloh, Ноrnibrookiana, Globosa, Ssр. Dalmatica, Сolumnaris, Var. Сеbennensis, Var. Саramanisa, Var. Аustriaca, Аurea)

Location: sun-loving, can tolerate light lateral shading. Not demanding of soil fertility, dislikes compaction. Can grow on rocky soils, tolerates salinity. Resistant to urban conditions. Not affected by heat and drought, wind-resistant. Grows well on well-drained sandy soils. Low moisture requirements.

Planting: Planting hole depth – 0.8-1 m. Root collar at ground level. Distance between plants 3-4 m. On heavy soils with excess moisture it is recommended to provide drainage 20 cm thick. Soil mix: sand, peat and topsoil in ratio 2:1:1 – for planting in neutral soil. For acidic soils add 200-300 g of lime per hole. Add superphosphate 150 g/hole to the planting mix; in autumn apply phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.

Care: In the second year after planting apply a complete fertilizer, and in the second half of summer – phosphorus-potassium fertilizers 40-50 g per 10 l of water. Young pines may suffer from winter burn; to protect them it is recommended to cover with winter spruce boughs.

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

Diseases: rust, pine twist, rust canker (resin canker, seryanka), scleroderris (umbrella disease), Schütte, bark necrosis.

Pests: pine aphid, adelgids, conifer mealybugs, pine scale, pine bark bug, spider mite, red pine sawfly, pine silkmoth, pine shoot weevil, pine looper, pine owlet moth, pine mining moth, cone moth, cone pyralid, large and small pine bark beetles, pine longhorn beetle, pine buprestid, pine weevil, spotted cone moth.

Propagation: propagated by seed, sown in the ground in early spring. Seeds should be pre-stratified for one month. Seedlings are grown on sandy loam and light clay soils. Rarely on sandy soils.

Usage: Used in shelterbelts, parks, for planting around health institutions, in groups, mixed groups and singly. Creates denser/shadier plantings than Scots pine.