Siberian cedar pine

In cultivation for a very long time; in Ukraine – since 1809. It is a tall tree 35-44 m in height, trunk diameter reaching 2 m. Grows slowly, the growing season lasts 40-45 days per year. Crown spreading, multi-tiered, symmetrical. Trunk straight, even. Branching in whorls. Young shoots gray, later brownish, covered with long reddish hairs. Bark brown-gray, scaly, fissured. Root system powerful, polymorphic, depends on soil structure.

Needles dark green with a glaucous bloom, soft, 6-14 cm long, three-angled, slightly serrated at the edges, borne in bundles of 5. Remain on the tree for 5-6 years.

Buds conical in shape, tapering at the tips, 6-10 mm long, not resinous. Bud scales lanceolate, gradually and long-acuminate.

The plant is monoecious with unisexual cones on the same tree. Pollination occurs in June, by wind. Male cones grow on lateral shoots in the middle part of the crown. Female cones are at the tips of growth shoots. Fertilization occurs 11-12 months after pollination.

Cones large, ovoid, immature – purple, later becoming brown, up to 13 cm long and 5-8 cm wide. Scales dense, the surface covered with stiff hairs. Apophyses widely thickened, large, up to 2 cm wide with a small umbo, diamond-shaped. Begins to bear fruit at the age of 25-30 years. Seeds edible, 10-14 cm long and 6-10 cm wide, obliquely obovate-ovoid in shape, dark brown, wingless. Each cone contains 30-150 seeds – pine nuts. Maximum yield is observed at 100-150 years (10-15 kg of nuts from one tree). Seeds mature in September of the following year. Mass of 1000 seeds – 250 g.

Hardiness zone 2a.

Cultivars: Президент, Олигарх, Нарцисс, Биосфера, Идеал, Рекордистка, Изумруд, Тамагочи, Плантационный, Камикадзе, Икар, Он и Она, Субальпийский, Горец, Биосфера.

Location: prefers humid air. Does not like dry sandy soils. Grows well on sandy-loam and loamy moist fertile soils. Sensitive to air pollution and dust.

Planting and pruning: distance between seedlings not less than 4-6 m. If the soil is sandy, it is recommended to mix the topsoil with peat and clay in a ratio of 2:1:2.

Propagation: propagated by seed and by grafting a cutting onto Scots pine. Good results are obtained with autumn sowing (late September – early October). For spring sowing, seeds require stratification. Seeds should be soaked in warm water (25-30 degrees) for 4-6 days, changing the water every 1-2 days. After that the seeds are mixed with washed river sand or peat crumbs and left for 50-60 days, periodically moistening them. After stratification, seeds are stored cold (around 0 degrees) until sowing. Spring sowing is recommended at the end of April – early May. Sow 50-300 g of seed per 1 sq. m and cover to a depth of 3-4 cm. Seedling survival is 95%.

Uses: effective as a solitary specimen and in groups. Used for decorating parks and forest plantings. Dwarf forms are used in garden plots. Can be used to create bonsai.