Yellow Pine

A species of coniferous plant from the genus Pinus of the family Pinaceae. It is the state tree of Montana. Lives 300-600 years. One of the main forest-forming tree species in North America (southern California and Oregon). Grows at elevations of 1400-2600 m on the coastal Cascade rocky mountains. In cultivation since 1827.

A tree with an open narrow-conical crown, 15-25 (up to 80 m in its native range) m tall and 6-8 m wide. Annual growth 25 cm in height and 15 cm in width. At 30 years it reaches 10 m in height. Trunk straight, 80-120 cm in diameter.

Branches sparsely arranged, arched; when young they are obliquely raised and become pendulous at a more mature age. Young shoots are glabrous, blackish-gray in color, and emit a turpentine scent when cut. Bark yellow or reddish-brown, thick (up to 10 cm), with deep fissures that appear as rectangular scaly plates.

Buds up to 18 mm long and 10 mm thick, elongate-conical in shape, resinous, pointed; scales glossy, reddish-brown, white-fringed at the edges, tightly appressed.

Needles flexible, slightly curved, borne in fascicles of 3 (sometimes 2 or 5) needles, 7-25 cm long and 1.2-2 mm thick, a rich yellow-green color, finely serrated at the edges. Stomatal lines on the needles are white and well visible. Retained on the tree for 4-6 years.

Blooms in April. Male strobili ellipsoid-cylindrical, 1.5-3.5 cm long, yellow or red in color. Female cones symmetrical, conical-ovoid, after opening become ovoid, 5-15 cm long, reddish-brown, sessile, erect or slightly curved, solitary or in groups of 3-5. Cone scales are arranged in a steep spiral, 5-7 in a row, distinctly separated from each other. Seeds ellipsoid-ovoid in shape, 6-10 mm long and 5-6 mm thick, yellow-brown or brown, often with dark spots; wing transparent, 15-25 mm long.

Hardiness zone 5b.

Cultivars: f.arizonica (Arizona), f.deflexa (deflexed/inclined), f.macrophylla (large-needled), f.Mayriana (Mayriana), f.pendula (weeping), Doo Dad.

Location: grows well on fresh, moist, well-drained, gravelly or sandy soil. Can grow on alkaline soils. Not demanding regarding soil fertility. Light-loving. Tolerant of urban conditions. Cold-hardy, tolerates temperatures down to -30 degrees Celsius.

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

Propagation: propagated by seed, but seed germination is low. Seedlings are pricked out into beds at the end of May during spring-summer rains. In the first year seedlings need protection from direct sunlight.

Uses: looks striking in solitary plantings as well as in small groups in parks or forest parks. Pairs well with Thunberg's barberry) and forsythia, and also as a backdrop to taller, darker conifers.