Pine

Savor the resinous aroma and music of a sheltering pine tree on a breezy summer day. Tufts of long, graceful needles, rugged silhouettes, and often showy trunks are the hallmarks of this huge tree family. Artfully pruned dwarf pines in containers and rock gardens can look ancient even when they're quite young. Look for three-needled pines such as lace-bark and longleaf, and red and black pines including Scotch, Mugo, Austrian, and Japanese red and black pines, for their greater tolerance of drought, salt air, cold, and other extreme conditions. Well-drained soil is a must for growing pines successfully. Most species prefer moist soil in full sun. Eastern white pine may become iron-deprived and turn yellow in high pH soils.

Light:

Sun

Zones:

2-9

Plant Type:

Tree

Plant Height:

15-90 feet tall

Plant Width:

10-60 feet wide

Landscape Uses:

Containers,Beds & Borders,Privacy,Slopes

Special Features:

Attractive Foliage,Fragrant,Winter Interest,Attracts Birds

Top Varieties

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Austrian pine

Pinus nigra forms a dense, dark green pyramid of evergreen foliage. It grows best in cool-summer climates and reaches 130 feet tall and 30 feet wide. Zones 5-8
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Bosnian pine

Pinus leucodermis offers medium-length dark green needles. It grows 70 feet tall and 20 feet wide. Zones 5-8
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Bristlecone pine

Pinus aristata is native to Colorado's Rocky Mountains and grows into a small, multistemmed tree to 30 feet tall and 20 feet wide. Zones 4-8
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'Chief Joseph' pine

Pinus contorta 'Chief Joseph' is a striking selection with bright golden color in winter that fades to green in spring. It grows 60 feet tall and 20 feet wide. Zones 5-8
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Contorted Eastern white pine

Pinus strobus 'Contorta' offers twisted needles and curled branches that create a distinct note in the landscape. It can grow 40 feet tall and 12 feet wide. Zones 4-9
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Eastern white pine

Pinus strobes bears soft needles on tall, rugged trees. It's often used as windbreak plantings, but note the tree develops an open habit as it ages. It grows 120 feet tall and 25 feet wide. Zones 4-9
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Japanese white pine

Pinus parviflora is a sculptural tree with blue-green needles. It grows 30-70 feet tall and 25 feet wide. Zones 6-9
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Limber pine

Pinus flexilis is native to the Rocky Mountains and handles drought, heat, and alkaline soil better than most pines. It grows 70 feet tall and 30 feet wide. Zones 3-7
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Peterson Japanese white pine

Pinus parviflora 'Peterson' is a dense, pyramid-shape evergreen with silvery, blue-green needles. It's a slow grower to 18 feet tall and 9 feet wide. Zones 5-8
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Swiss stone pine

Pinus cembra bears beautiful green needles streaked with blue. It grows 70 feet tall and 25 feet wide at maturity. Zones 3-7
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'Taylor's Sunburst' lodgepole pine

Pinus contorta 'Taylor's Sunburst' features bright gold new spring growth that fades to deep green in summer. It grows 30 feet tall and wide. Zones 5-8
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Garden Plans

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Bird-Friendly Garden
Foundation Garden

Propagation

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Seed
Stem Cuttings
Grafting