Scots pine characteristic of Scots pine. Where do pine trees grow?


Tree reaching up to better conditions height growth of 30-40 m or more, and a diameter of up to 100 cm. The trunk of Scots pine, growing in relatively closed plantations, is slender, straight, even, highly cleared of branches; in sparse stands or open spaces the tree is less tall, the trunk is tapering and more gnarled.

The crown of young trees is cone-shaped, later it is rounded, wider, and in old age it is even umbrella-shaped or flat. This depends on the nature and speed of growth of the central axial and lateral shoots.

The bark of different parts of the tree is of different thickness and different colors: in the lower part of the trunk it is usually thicker and rougher, grooved, red-brown, almost gray; in middle and upper parts the trunk and on large branches of the crown are yellowish-red, peeling off in thin plates, almost smooth, thin; on young trees and thin branches - gray-green. The thickness of the bark reaches 10-12% of the trunk diameter.

Young shoots are bare, with brown scaly leaves, greenish-gray. The buds are reddish-brown, elongated-ovate, pointed, 6-12 mm long, mostly resinous, located at the end of the shoots whorled around the terminal bud, sometimes buds appear on the side of the shoots, but do not form branches.

The needles are bluish-green, convex above, flat below, hard, pointed, up to 8 cm long and up to 2 mm wide. The lifespan of needles is 2-3 years. However, there are cases when in some areas of the vast range of pine trees with special habitat conditions, the life expectancy of needles increases to 6-8 years or more. The oldest needles usually fall off annually.

Male spikelets are yellow or reddish, ovoid, 5-7 mm long, sit crowded on short stalks at the base of young shoots of the current year, appear 2-3 days earlier than female ones. Stamens with two anthers, opening with a longitudinal slit.

Female cones are oval in shape, 5-6 mm long, reddish during flowering, sit 1-3 on short stalks at the end of the young shoots of the current year and consist of leathery covering scales, in the axils of which there are seed scales with two ovules each. Pollination occurs in the spring with the assistance of the wind, and fertilization occurs in the summer of the following year.

Pine cones ripen in the fall, and seeds begin to fall out of them in the spring of next year. In the Bryansk massif, this phenomenon occurs on average on May 12, or 718 days after the start of flowering. In the Moscow region, pine seeds begin to fall out of cones on May 4, or 8 days earlier than in Bryansk, Nerekhta - on May 5, or 709 days after flowering, in Obozerskaya near Arkhangelsk - on April 28, or 677 days after flowering.

The largest amount of pine seeds falls in May and June. Thus, according to observations in the BSSR, in April 4.8% of the number of seeds falls, in May - 62.2%, in June - 28.5%, in July - 4.1%, in August and September - 0.4% .

Mature cones of Scots pine are elongated-ovate, 2.5-7 cm long and 2-3 cm wide, brownish-gray, matte, with dense woody seed scales, hanging down on curved legs. The scutes, or apophyses, at the ends of the seed scales are matte or slightly shiny, almost rhombic, the navel (apophysis tubercle) is slightly convex. There are cones that are red-brown, lilac-brown, gray, gray-green (Fig. 3).

Pine seeds are elongated-ovate, 3-4 mm long. of various colors (variegated, gray, black) with a wing 3-4 times longer than the seed, covering the seed on both sides, like tweezers, and easily separating from it.

The germination rate of Scots pine seeds usually reaches 90% or higher, but remains for no more than 4-5 years, since during storage their germination rate gradually decreases and after 4-5 years they lose their economic value. The weight of Scots pine seeds varies in different geographical areas of its growth, increasing from north to south and from west to east. On average, 1000 seeds weigh 6 g (from 3.4 to 8.2 g). There are an average of 160-180 thousand pieces in 1 kg.

The size of the pine seed harvest is closely related to the growing area, forest type, age of the tree stand, its completeness, weather conditions and other environmental factors. On average, in the forest zone the pine yield is determined to be 2 kg per 1 hectare. In years of abundant harvests, it can reach 5 kg or more. In lean years there are almost no seeds.

Seed germination and emergence of seedlings is possible throughout the growing season.

Typically, seedlings appear with sufficient soil moisture and appropriate air temperature 2-3 weeks after the seeds fall out of the cones or sowing.

Seedlings usually have 4-7 triangular cotyledons. On seedlings they are solitary, sit spirally. Paired needles appear in the second year. The apex of the elongated shoot of the second year ends with one apical and several lateral buds, from which the following spring an axial shoot and the first whorl with two or three lateral branches are formed. When determining the age of young pine trees by whorls, two units should be added to the number of whorls, since in the first two growing seasons no whorls are formed on the shoot. It is relatively easy to determine the age of a pine tree by whorls up to the age of 40-50 years; later this is more difficult to do, since the branches of the lower whorls die and become overgrown with wood and bark. Moreover, when favorable conditions moisture in the summer and a sufficiently warm and long autumn, pine can produce two or more increments per season and form a second or even several whorls. Obviously, in such cases it will be difficult to correctly determine the age of the tree.

In practice, the age of a tree is often determined by the growth rings on the stump or by incremental cylinders drilled with a drill. Such a calculation can give a more accurate idea of ​​the age of the tree, since a secondary annual ring of wood is not formed during the formation of the second shoot growth in height.

Pine enters the time of seed bearing (“fruiting”) early. At the age of 10-15 years, and sometimes earlier, individual pines growing in open spaces begin to gather dust and produce quite viable seeds. In more closed forest stands, this process begins later - from 20-25 years and then continues throughout life, but abundant seed harvests occur after 2-3-5 years. In the best growing conditions, pine bears fruit more often and more abundantly, in worse conditions it bears fruit less often and weaker. However, there is no clear frequency of harvests.

Scots pine is a fast-growing species. The maximum increase in height on the best soils occurs at the age of 15-20 years, on the worst - at 25 years. At the age of 40-50 years, height growth slows down and then stops altogether. The diameter of the tree grows throughout its life. Pine lives up to 300-350 years, rarely up to 400 years or more.

Scots pine is undemanding in terms of climate. It grows in the harsh climate of the Arctic and in the sultry steppes of Kazakhstan. Able to tolerate severe droughts and high dry air and soil. It does not suffer at all from late spring frosts and can settle in open spaces first, i.e. it is a pioneer breed. It is also undemanding to soil fertility. It grows quite successfully on poor and dry sandy soils, on rocky rocks in the mountains, on chalk deposits and peat-boggy soils. But it develops better on fresh sandy loam and light loamy soils, as well as on degraded chernozems.

Scots pine has a plastic root system that develops in accordance with the nature and structure of the soil. In conditions with insufficient water supply and deep groundwater levels, pine develops a superficial, highly developed root system and an underdeveloped taproot. On soils that are swampy or with a close groundwater level, the pine root system is also superficial, without a tap root. On fresh, well-drained, deep sandy, sandy loam and loamy soils, pine usually develops a powerful root system with a taproot extending 1.5-2 m or more into the soil; in such conditions it is very wind-resistant. On shallow and damp soils it often suffers from windfall.

Scots pine is very demanding of light and in this regard is second only to larch. Light-loving pine trees, however, are not the same everywhere: in the northern regions of their growth and in the mountains, they are more demanding of light than in the southern regions, where in some cases, especially at a young age, they require some shading. Pine undergrowth usually survives in such conditions only in shaded places, and burns out in open spaces. Lack of lighting under the canopy of dense young pine trees leads to the rapid death of stunted trees and the clearing of branches from the trunks of more developed trees.

Scots pine wood has been used by humans since time immemorial. It is very widely used in civil and industrial construction, in the construction of railways and highways, bridges, telegraph and telephone communication lines, in the mining industry, in carpentry and furniture production, in sawmilling, etc. We produce from pine: , . Commercial pine wood has unlimited demand on the international market. Logging and sawmill waste is a valuable raw material for the wood chemical industry. From them methyl and ethyl alcohols, resins, turpentine, phenols, rosin, carbon dioxide, feed yeast, crystalline glucose and other products. By tapping, oleoresin is obtained, and from the latter - turpentine and rosin.

Scots pine wood with a pinkish or brownish-red core and yellowish-white sapwood, straight-grained, light, resinous, durable, easy to process. The annual layers are clearly visible. The early part of the annual layer is light, the later part is darker. The increase in the width of the annual layer occurs due to early wood (less dense). In a narrow layer, late (more dense) wood predominates, with high physical and mechanical properties.

Characteristics of pine wood: wood is almost 50% carbon, 44% oxygen and nitrogen, and 6.4% hydrogen. By chemical composition it consists of 42.9% cellulose, 10.8% pentosans, 29.5% lignin, 12.8% hexosans, 3.2% resinous substances and 1.8% other water-soluble substances.

Scots pine also has medicinal value. Pine buds, collected in the spring before they bloom, are widely used in medicine. The kidneys contain resins essential oils, starch, bitter and tannins, boretin, mineral salts. Pine needles are rich in vitamin C and carotene. Essential oil is obtained from it for the treatment of rheumatic diseases. Pine needles can be processed into vitamin flour, pine wool and cotton wool.

Scots pine seeds contain a lot of fatty oil, which has medical, nutritional and technical significance. You can use pine pollen as baby powder and as a substitute for moss moss spores in making pills.

When growing pine trees in your dacha, you not only beautify the area by decorating it with these austere, slender trees with a tent-shaped crown, but also purify the air throughout the surrounding area. The places where these giants grow are considered environmentally friendly, because it’s not for nothing that dispensaries for people with respiratory pathologies are being built near pine groves.

Coniferous tree pine ( Pinus) belongs to the Pine family (Pinaceae). The genus is diverse and includes more than 100 various types native to the Northern Hemisphere from the Arctic Circle to Guatemala, the West Indies, North Africa and Indonesia. All species are inhabitants of mountains and montane forests of the Northern Hemisphere, and only Merku pine (Pinus merkusii) grows in Burma in the Southern Hemisphere.

After reading this material, you can familiarize yourself with photos and botanical descriptions of species and varieties of pine trees, learn about their cultivation and use in landscape design:

What a pine tree looks like: photo and botanical description

Pines are slender evergreen trees. Most species reach a height of 50-75 m, with widely spaced, whorled branches. The crown of pine trees changes with age: in young trees it has a compact pin-shaped shape, in adults it is umbrella-shaped. This is due to the fact that the annual growths of adult plants are short and appear at the ends of highly branched shoots, while the growths of young shoots are long and weakly branched. The bark of all types of pines is lumpy or scaly.

Pine needles are always needle-like. In species of the subgenus Strobus it is soft, thin, collected in bunches of 5, less often 3,4 or 8 pieces. In species of the subgenus Pinus - hard, dense, collected in bunches of 2 pieces. The length of pine needles, depending on the type, can range from 2 to 30 cm with a width of only 1-2 mm. When describing the pine tree, it is worth noting that the longest and softest needles are those of heat-loving southern species. The most famous soft-coniferous species is the South American Mantezuma pine (Pinus montezumae) - its needles are so soft that they are used to stuff pillows and mattresses.

Male “flowers” ​​of pine trees are collected in bunches at the base of young elongated shoots; they are yellow, orange or red. Pollen is very light and can be carried by the wind over gigantic distances. The seeds are produced in cones that form after pollination of the female “inflorescences”. They are located at the ends of the shoots and consist of a central axis on which covering scales are arranged spirally, in whose axils the seed scales are hidden.

Look what pine trees look like in their natural habitat in these photos:

Mature cones are always woody, rounded, ovoid or cylindrical, straight or curved, pendulous or upward-pointing. They ripen in the second, less often in the third year. The size of the cones ranges from 3 cm long in some forms of mountain pine to 40-50 cm long in the heat-loving American Coulter and Lambert pines.).

Pines are one of the most beautiful trees, revered by all peoples at all times. Several references have been found to what pine trees look like in ancient treatises. It is no coincidence that legends and stories about power and longevity are associated with them, and it is these trees that personify strength and nobility. The Latin name of the genus Pinus - Pinus - comes from the ancient Greek legend about the nymph Pitis, turned into a tree by the jealous wind god Boreas. The prototype of this legendary tree is undoubtedly the Mediterranean pine (Pinus pinea).

Below are photos and descriptions of popular types of pine trees.

Pinus bunksiana- Banks Pine

The main habitat is eastern North America, the northern provinces of Canada. Has an irregular growth pattern. The trunks are densely branched, and the branches themselves are slightly curved, pointed, growing both parallel to the ground and upward. Young branches are light, yellow-green, and later acquire a brown color.

As you can see in the photo, this pine has hard, short, curved, pointed needles, 2 needles in a bunch, green:

The cones are sessile, erect, ovoid-pointed, sometimes curved, arranged from 1 to 4. Up to 8 cm long, up to 4 cm thick. Their maturation can occur over several years, and all this time they can remain closed. In its youth, even on poor soils, this pine grows quite actively. Subsequently, its growth slows down. The usual height of trees is about 20 m and width 30 cm. Rare specimens are both taller and wider. The annual growth of this pine is within 20 cm, the tree is completely drought-resistant and winter-hardy. It has many garden cultivars, which in recent years have been actively introduced into Russian gardens.

Pinus banksiana Arktis

Creeping, dwarf variety of Banks pine. Fixing the leading shoot at an angle of 45-60 degrees relative to the ground helps give this variety a very interesting shape, The branches are curved, having different lengths. The needles are short, prickly, green, annual growth is 8-10 cm. Completely frost-resistant.

Pinus banksiana Chippewa

Mini variety of Banks pine. Round shape. The needles are short, prickly, green. Annual growth is 5-7 cm, completely frost-resistant.

Pinus banksiana Manomet

Mini variety of Banks pine. Rounded in shape, with age it can put forward a leading shoot. The needles are short, prickly, green. Annual growth is 5-7 cm. At the age of 15, the estimated dimensions are: 80-100 cm in width, 60 cm in height. Completely frost-resistant.

Pinus banksiana Repens

A dwarf variety of Banks pine. Creeping, cushion-shaped. The needles are short, prickly, green. Annual growth is 7-12 cm. Estimated size at 20 years of age: 3-3.5 m in width, 80-100 cm in height. Completely frost-resistant.

Pinus banksiana Schneverdingen

Pinus banksiana Tear Drop

Mini variety of Banks pine. Round-oval shape. The needles are short, prickly, green. Annual growth is 5-7 cm. Completely frost-resistant.

Pinus banksiana Neponset

Mini variety of Banks pine. Round-oval shape. The needles are short, prickly, green. Annual growth is 5-7 cm. Completely frost-resistant.

Pinus cembra- European cedar pine

Found in the Alps, Carpathians and Siberia. The Siberian variety is better known as Pinus sibirica - Siberian cedar or Siberian cedar pine.

European cedar pine is a tree 10-25 m high. Young plants are wide-pyramidal, adults acquire a voluminous crown. The branches of this type of pine are thick, flexible, and unevenly located. Young growth shoots are rusty-red and felt-like, mature shoots are black-gray. Young bark is gray-green, mature bark is greenish-brown, wrinkled. The needles are collected in bundles of 5 pieces. and last 3-5 years. They are green above, bluish below, thin, straight, up to 7 cm long. Cones are formed only at the age of 40-80 years. Young cones are purple, mature ones are light brown, up to 8 cm in diameter. The seeds (“pine nuts”) ripen in the second year.

In cultivation it grows slowly and absolutely does not tolerate heavy clay soils and close groundwater. Frost-resistant. In mountainous areas, “witch’s broom” quite often forms on this pine tree.

For a long time it was considered unpromising for cultivation in gardens in the northern temperate zone of Russia. In the last 5 years, the situation has changed, and cultivars of this pine began to appear more often in our gardens, but it is still premature to draw final conclusions about their full sustainability in the Russian climate.

Pinus cembra Alter Hund

Pinus cembra Aureovariegata

A dwarf variety of European pine. Pyramid shape. This variety of pine European species the needles are green-golden throughout the summer. At a young age, the annual growth of branches is within 15 cm. The leading shoot can grow up to 30 cm. At the moment, the final dimensions of this variety have not yet been determined. Completely frost-resistant.

Pinus cembra Diamant

Mini variety of European cedar pine. spherical shape. The needles are rich, green-blue, sometimes whitish-silver. Annual growth is 4-7 cm. Completely frost-resistant,

  • Pinus cembra Ikarus. Mini variety of European cedar pine. Dense spherical shape. The needles are rich, green-blue, sometimes whitish-silver. Annual growth is 4-6 cm, completely frost-resistant.
  • Pinus cembra Frieda. Mini variety of European cedar pine. Spherical-oval shape. The needles are rich, green-blue. The annual growth of this pine variety is up to 4-7 cm. It is completely frost-resistant.
  • Pinus cembra Hirschbichlalm. Mini variety of European cedar pine. spherical shape. The needles are rich, green-blue, sometimes whitish-silver. Annual growth is 4-7 cm. Completely frost-resistant.
  • Pinus cembra Kaunertal. Mini variety of European cedar pine. spherical shape. The needles are rich, green-blue, sometimes whitish-silver. Annual growth is 5-7 cm, completely frost-resistant.
  • Pinus cembra Lagazuoi.
  • Pinus cembra Leo . Mini variety of European cedar pine. Globular-oval shape, needles rich, green-blue, sometimes whitish-silver. Annual growth is 4-7 cm. Completely frost-resistant.
  • Pinus cembra Maria Flora. Mini variety of European cedar pine, spherical shape. The needles are rich, green-blue, Annual growth is 5-7 cm. Completely frost-resistant,
  • Pinus cembra Mercedes. Mini variety of European cedar pine. spherical shape. The needles are rich, green-blue, sometimes whitish-silver. Annual growth is 3-6 cm, completely frost-resistant.
  • Pinus cembra Niederalm. Mini variety of European cedar pine. spherical shape. The needles are rich, green-blue, sometimes whitish-silver. Annual growth is 3-7 cm. Completely frost-resistant.
  • Pinus cembra Passo Erbe. Mini variety of European cedar pine. spherical shape. The needles are rich, green-blue, sometimes whitish-silver. Annual growth is 3-5 cm, completely frost-resistant.
  • Pinus cembra Perla. Mini variety of European cedar pine. Dense, spherical-oval shape. The needles are rich, green-blue, sometimes whitish-silver. Annual growth is 3-5 cm, completely frost-resistant.
  • Pinus cembra Schneekonig. Mini variety of European cedar pine. Globular shape, needles rich, green-blue, sometimes whitish-silver. Annual growth is 4-7 cm, completely frost-resistant.
  • Pinus cembra St. Catarina. Mini variety of European cedar pine. Spherical-oval shape. The needles are rich, green-blue, sometimes whitish-silver. Annual growth is 4-7 cm. Completely frost-resistant.
  • Pinus cembra St. Christina. Mini variety of European cedar pine. Dense, spherical shape. The needles are rich, green-blue, sometimes whitish-silver. Annual growth is 3-5 cm. Completely frost-resistant.
  • Pinus cembra St. Ulrich. Mini variety of European cedar pine. Dense, spherical shape. The needles are rich, green-blue, sometimes whitish-silver. Annual growth is 3-5 cm. Completely frost-resistant.
  • Pinus cembra Stricta. A dwarf variety of European pine. Oval in shape, the branches fit tightly to the main trunk. The needles are blue-green. Annual growth is 10-12 cm. Completely frost-resistant.
  • Pinus cembra Steiner. Mini variety of European cedar pine, spherical-oval shape. The needles are rich, green-blue. Annual growth is 4-7 cm. Completely frost-resistant.
  • Pinus cembra Stoderzinken 4. Mini variety of European cedar pine. spherical shape. The needles are rich, green-blue, sometimes whitish-silver. Annual growth is 3-6 cm. Completely frost-resistant.
  • Pinus cembra Turrach 4. Mini variety of European cedar pine. spherical shape. The needles are rich, green-blue, sometimes whitish-silver. Annual growth within 5 cm. Completely frost-resistant,
  • Pinus cembra Drei Zinnen. Mini variety of European cedar pine. Dense, spherical-oval shape. The needles are rich, green-blue, sometimes whitish-silver. Annual growth is 3-5 cm. Completely frost-resistant.

Pinus contorta- Twisted pine

It grows in North America, on the Pacific coast, and also in the highlands. The height of mature trees is up to 50 m, width 70-90 cm. The crown is spreading.

Look at the photo - this type of pine has thin, brown bark:

The branches are thin, whorled at the ends. The needles are green, twisted, with two needles in a bunch. The cones are elongated-ovoid, ellipsoidal, up to 5 cm. They do not open for several years. The root system is superficial.

Garden cultivars are very decorative. In recent years, they have been actively planted in Russian gardens. It is frost-resistant, but it is somewhat premature to draw final conclusions about its complete stability in the Russian climate.

Pinus contorta Chief Joseph

Golden variety of lodgepole pine. Dwarf, pyramidal, densely branched form. The branches are densely pubescent. The needles are long, pointed, green in summer. It begins to turn yellow in late autumn and retains a bright golden color until spring. Annual growth is within 10-15 cm. The variety has been tested in several gardens in the northern temperate zone of Russia for 3-5 years. It has proven to be completely frost-resistant. In plants planted in open spaces, in early spring, slight burning of needles on the current year's growth is possible.

Pinus contorta Golden Striker

Golden variety of lodgepole pine. Dwarf, cushion-shaped, flattened shape. The branches are thin and curved. The needles are long and pointed. It acquires its richest bright golden color in early spring. During the summer, light green. Annual growth is within 10 cm. The variety has been tested in several gardens in the northern temperate zone of Russia for 3-5 years. Proved to be completely frost-resistant. In plants planted in open spaces, in early spring, slight burning of needles on the current year's growth is possible. Recommended planting in sparse partial shade.

Pinus contorta Krnak

A dwarf variety of lodgepole pine. Very dense, densely branched, rounded oval shape. The needles are long, curved and twisted, dark green. Annual growth is within 15 cm. The variety has been tested in several gardens in the northern temperate zone of Russia for 3-5 years. It has shown itself to be completely frost-resistant and tolerant of sunlight.

Pinus contorta Taylor's Sunburst

Medium-sized golden variety of lodgepole pine. Widely pyramidal, densely branched form. The needles are long, pointed, soft. It acquires its richest bright golden color in early spring. The golden color of the growths lasts for 5-6 weeks. By autumn, the growths turn pale and then turn green. Annual growth at a young age is up to 15 cm. With age it increases to 25 cm. The variety has been tested in several gardens in the northern temperate zone of Russia for 3-5 years. Proved to be completely frost-resistant and tolerant of sunlight.

Pinus flexilis- Soft pine (flexible)

High mountain pine grows in western North America, as well as in the Rocky Mountains, at altitudes up to 3000 m above sea level. The height of the trees is up to 25 m, the crown is pyramidal and wide. In open spaces, the height is within 15 m. When describing this type of pine, it is especially worth noting its curved branches. The bark is dark, brown. The needles are 5 in a bunch, pointed, green, bluish-white on the reverse side. The cones are oval-cylindrical, sessile, up to 15 cm. Garden cultivars are very decorative. In recent years, they have been actively planted in Russian gardens. It is frost-resistant, but it is somewhat premature to draw final conclusions about its complete stability in the Russian climate. It has a large number of garden cultivars.

The varieties of this pine have not yet been studied enough. Therefore, their description and dimensions may not always be correct.

Pinus flexilis Arapaho

Mini variety of soft pine. Dense, spherical-oval shape. The needles are 5-6 cm long, dense, green, the back side is bluish-white. Annual growth is 5-6 cm. It is frost-resistant, but it is somewhat premature to draw final conclusions about its complete stability in the Russian climate.

Pinus flexilis Aztek

Mini variety of soft pine. Very dense, spherical shape. The needles are short, soft, green, the back side is bluish-white. Annual growth is 3-5 cm. It is frost-resistant, but it is somewhat premature to draw final conclusions about its complete stability in the Russian climate.

Pinus flexilis Komanche

Mini variety. Spherical-oval shape. The needles are short, hard, blue-green, the back side is bluish-white. Vegetating shoots are light green. Annual growth is 4-6 cm. It is frost-resistant, but it is somewhat premature to draw final conclusions about its complete stability in the Russian climate.

Pinus flexilis Horstmann

Dwarf. Cushion-shaped, creeping shape. The needles are soft and green. Annual growth is 10-12 cm. It is frost-resistant, but it is somewhat premature to draw final conclusions about its complete stability in the Russian climate.

Pinus koraiensis- Korean pine, or Korean cedar pine

Grows in forests Far East, Japan and China. In appearance it is quite close to the species Pinus cembra, which is why it is sometimes called Korean Cedar.

The tree is 25-35 m high. In young plants the crown is broadly oval, in adults it is wide and rather loose. The branches are thick, flexible, and unevenly located. Young growth shoots are powerful green with dense red-brown pubescence, mature shoots are black and gray. The needles are green on top, but white-gray below and on the sides, thin, straight, 8-10 cm long, collected in sparse bunches of 5 pieces. and fall off in the second year. The cones are apical, almost sessile, and are formed only at the age of 40-60 years. Young cones are purple, mature ones are golden, 10-14 cm in diameter. The seeds, similar to “pine nuts,” ripen in the second year.

In culture it is quite frost-resistant, but it is somewhat premature to draw final conclusions about its complete stability in the Russian climate. It has a large number of garden cultivars with different growth forms.

Pinus koraiensis Amba

Mini variety of Korean pine. spherical shape. The needles are long, straight, soft, green-blue, silver. Annual growth is 3-5 cm. Completely frost-resistant.

Pinus koraiensis Blue Ball

Mini variety of Korean pine. Compact, spherical shape. The needles are long, straight, soft, green-blue, silver. Annual growth is 3-5 cm. Completely frost-resistant.

Pinus koraiensis China Baby

Mini variety of Korean pine. spherical shape. The needles are long, soft, green-blue. Annual growth is 4-7 cm, completely frost-resistant.

  • Pinus koraiensis China Boy . Mini variety of Korean pine. spherical shape. The needles are short, soft, green-blue. Annual growth is 3-5 cm. Completely frost-resistant.
  • Pinus koraiensis Dragon Eye. Medium-sized variety of Korean pine. Dense, pyramidal shape. The needles are long, soft, hanging. Blue-green, has yellow stripes. Annual growth is 15-20 cm. Frost-resistant.
  • Pinus koraiensis Shibanichi. Medium-sized variety of Korean pine. Pyramid shape. The needles are long, soft, hanging. Blue, with silver.
  • Pinus koraiensis Winton Gee Broom. Mini variety of Korean pine. spherical shape. The needles are soft, green-blue. Annual growth is 3-5 cm. Completely frost-resistant.

Pinus mugo- Mountain pine

Grows in the highlands of Central and Southern Europe. It forms masses on slopes or grows in single specimens, forming picturesque three-dimensional groups. A shrub with flexible trunks lying under the weight of snow and rising young shoots. In the lower mountain zone, the height of plants reaches 4 m, in the upper one it does not exceed 40 cm. Young shoots are light green, adult shoots are dark brown, glabrous. Mature bark is gray-brown, scaly, peeling off in plates. The needles are collected in bundles of 2 pieces. They are dark green, dense, sharp, straight or slightly twisted, 5-8 cm long. The cones are small, round, single or in bunches of 3 pieces. They ripen in the second year.

Mountain pine has several natural varieties with different growth vigor and crown shape. All of them - most valuable material to obtain varietal forms. All natural forms and varieties in cultivation are stable, unpretentious and frost-resistant.

Of particular interest are varieties with originally colored needles.

Very popular Ophir And Winter Gold, the needles of which acquire a light golden color in winter.

Several varieties are widely represented in gardening: Pinus mugo var. mughus is a dense creeping shrub, forming clumps 70-150 cm high, with needles up to 12 cm long. Most varieties with long needles, for example Mops, originated from this form; Pinus mugo var. pumilio is a creeping shrub that forms dense clumps 50-140 cm high, with needles about 3-5 cm long. This natural form has become the source for many varieties with small short needles, for example Humpy and Gnom.

Pinus mugo var. pseudopumilio

Mountain, bush form. Has a large number of garden cultivars.

Pinus mugo var. rotundata

It grows in the mountains, in sphagnum bogs, as a shrub form; low, single-trunked trees can be found on drier and rocky soils. Has a large number of garden cultivars.

Pinus mugo var. uncinata

Tree, up to 20 m high. Grows in the Alps and Pyrenees at altitudes up to 2000-2500 m. After warm, wet winters, preventive treatment with copper-containing preparations for fungal infections is recommended. Has a large number of garden cultivars.

All natural varieties and varieties of mountain pine are frost-resistant and do not require winter shelter. Completely tolerant to sunlight.

Pinus mugo Albospicato Domschke

Yellowing dwarf, possibly medium-sized variety of mountain pine. Narrow pyramidal shape. The needles are long and soft. At the end of spring, the vegetated shoots become golden for 2 weeks. Annual growth is 8 -12 cm. Completely frost-resistant.

Pinus mugo Allgau

Mini variety of mountain pine. Globular, slightly cone-shaped with age. The needles are green and short. Annual growth is within 3-5 cm. Completely frost-resistant.

Pinus mugo Vegap

  • Pinus mugo Bozi Dar. Mini variety of mountain pine. spherical shape. The needles are green and short. Annual growth is 3-4 cm. Completely frost-resistant.
  • Pinus mugo Sapes. Mini variety of mountain pine. spherical shape. The needles are green and short. Annual growth is 3-4 cm, completely frost-resistant.
  • Pinus mugo Chameleon. Mini, possibly a dwarf variety of mountain pine. Globular, spreading, slightly loose shape. The needles are variegated, gray-blue, golden at the ends. It becomes brightest in June, after the growing season. Annual growth up to 10 cm. Completely frost-resistant.
  • Pinus mugo Columnaris. Medium-sized variety of mountain pine. Ovoid shape. The branches are curved, tightly adjacent to the trunk. The needles are green. Annual growth is 10-15 cm. Completely frost-resistant.
  • Pinus mugo Dikobraz. Mini, possibly a dwarf variety. Globular, spreading shape. The needles are variegated, golden at the ends. It manifests itself most clearly from the beginning of spring to the end of summer. Annual growth is 5-8 cm. Completely frost-resistant.
  • Pinus mugo Edelweiss. Micro-variety of mountain pine. Very dense, spherical shape. The needles are green and short. Annual growth within 3 cm. Completely frost-resistant.
  • Pinus mugo Excellence. Mini variety of mountain pine. Round shape. The needles are green and short. Annual growth is 3-4 cm. Completely frost-resistant.
  • Pinus mugo Fish Hook. Mini variety of American mountain pine selection. Spherical-oval shape. The needles are green and short. Annual growth is 3-4 cm. Completely frost-resistant.
  • Pinus mugo Jizerske Leg.
  • Pinus mugo Kalus. Mini variety of mountain pine. spherical shape. The needles are green and short. Annual growth is 3-4 cm. Completely frost-resistant.
  • Pinus Mugo Kissen Brevifolia. Mini variety of mountain pine. Globular-spreading shape. The branches are curved. The needles are green, very short. Annual growth is 3-4 cm. Completely frost-resistant.
  • Pinus mugo Krasny Krejci. Micro-variety of mountain pine. Very dense, spherical shape. The needles are green and short. Growth within 3 cm. Completely frost-resistant,
  • Pinus mugo Kudrnac. Mini variety of mountain pine. spherical shape. The branches are slightly curved, the needles are green and short. Annual growth is 3-4 cm. Completely frost-resistant.
  • Pinus mugo Lemon. Golden mini-variety of mountain pine. Dense, spherical shape. The needles are golden, changing their intensity depending on the time of year. It is considered one of the most resistant golden mountain pine varieties. Annual growth is 4-6 cm. Completely frost-resistant.
  • Pinus mugo March. Mini variety of mountain pine. spherical shape. The needles are green and short.
  • Pinus mugo Mini-Mini. Mini variety of mountain pine. Spherical, compact shape. The needles are green and short. Annual growth is 3-4 cm. Completely frost-resistant.
  • Pinus mugo Minima Kalous. Micro-variety of mountain pine. Very dense, spherical shape. The needles are green and short. Growth within 3 cm. Completely frost-resistant.

P mugo ssp. pseudopumilio- Mountain pine variety pseudopumila

Pinus mugo ssp, pseudopumilio Drobny

Mini variety of mountain pine. spherical shape. The needles are green and short. Annual growth is 3-4 cm. Completely frost-resistant.

Pinus mugo ssp. pseudopumilio Krejci Super

Pinus mugo ssp. pseudopumilio Ohynek

Mini variety of mountain pine. Dense, spherical shape. The needles are green and short. Annual growth is 3 cm. Completely frost-resistant.

Pinus mugo ssp. pseudopumilio Pixie

Mini variety of mountain pine. Dense, spherical shape. The needles are green and short. Annual growth is 2-3 cm. Completely frost-resistant.

  • Pinus mugo ssp. pseudopumilio Platzino. Mini variety of mountain pine. spherical shape. The needles are green and short. Annual growth is 3-4 cm. Completely frost-resistant.
  • Pinus mugo ssp, pseudopumilio Rasnice. Mini variety of mountain pine. spherical shape. The needles are green and short. Annual growth is 4-6 cm. Completely frost-resistant.
  • Pinus mugo ssp. pseudopumilio Veliconoce. Mini variety of mountain pine. spherical shape. The needles are green and short. Annual growth is 3-4 cm. Completely frost-resistant.
  • Pinus mugo ssp. pseudopumilio Vireil. Mini variety of mountain pine. Very dense spherical shape.

Pay attention to the photo - the needles of this pine variety are green and short:

Annual growth is 1-3 cm. Completely frost-resistant.

Pinus mugo var. uncinata- Mountain pine subspecies uncinata

Pinus mugo var. uncinata Erwin

Micro-variety of mountain pine. Very dense spherical shape. The needles are short and green. Annual growth is 2-3 cm. Completely frost-resistant.

Pinus mugo var. rotundata- mountain pine variation rotundata

Pinus mugo var. rotundata Fritsche

Mini variety of mountain pine. Round shape. The needles are green. Annual growth is 5-8 cm. Completely frost-resistant.

  • Pinus mugo var. rotundata Kvaca. Mini variety of mountain pine. Round shape. The needles are green. Annual growth is 4-6 cm. Completely frost-resistant.
  • Pinus mugo var, uncinata Montana Vlk. Mini variety of mountain pine. Dense spherical-oval shape. The needles are short and green. Annual growth is 3-4 cm. Completely frost-resistant.
  • Pinus mugo var. uncinata Schonberg. Micro-variety of mountain pine, very dense spherical shape. The needles are short and green. Annual growth is 2-3 cm. Completely frost-resistant,
  • Pinus mugo var. uncinata Tour 4. Mini variety of mountain pine. Dense spherical shape. The needles are short and green. Annual growth is 3-4 cm. Completely frost-resistant.

Other varieties of pine trees: photos, names and descriptions

Pinus nigra- Black pine

Grows in the mountains of Southern Europe. This variety of pine is cultivated all the way to Northern Europe. A very beautiful tree 20-50 m high. The crown of young trees is wide-pyramidal, of adults - umbrella-shaped. The branches of young plants are uniformly whorled.

Pinus nigra Bobo

Pinus nigra Spielberg

Dwarf variety of black pine. Round-oval shape. The needles are dark green and long. Annual growth is 10-14 cm. Completely frost-resistant.

Pinus nigra Moravsky Jizni Kriz

Mini variety of black pine. spherical shape. The needles are dark green. Annual growth is 3-4 cm. Completely frost-resistant,

Pinus nigra Nana

Dwarf variety of black pine. Round-oval shape. The needles are dark green and long. Annual growth is 7-10 cm. Completely frost-resistant.

Pinus nigra Pink

Mini variety of black pine. spherical shape. The needles are dark green. Annual growth is 3-5 cm. Completely frost-resistant.

Pinus nigra SN 15

Mini variety of black pine. spherical shape. The needles are dark green. Annual growth is 3-4 cm. Completely frost-resistant.

Pinus parviflora- Small-flowered pine

Widely distributed in Japan, and not only as a plant of natural flora, but also as a favorite material for decorating gardens and creating dwarf bonsai trees.

In nature, it is a beautiful, stocky tree 5-12 m high with a flat, spreading crown. The crown of young plants is densely pyramidal. The branches are dense with short branches. The bark is gray-brown, completely smooth for a long time, and peels off with age in thin flaps.

As you can see in the photo, the needles of this variety of pine are needle-shaped, in bunches of 5 pieces, which are closely adjacent to each other and collected in tassels at the ends of the shoots:

The needles are strongly curved and twisted, 4-6 cm long. Young needles are white-gray, mature ones are bluish-green. The cones are sessile, up to 10 cm long and up to 4 cm wide, collected in bunches and horizontally spaced from each other. The shape of the cones varies - from ovoid to cylindrical. The seeds ripen in the second year, but the cones remain on the branches for up to 7 years.

Small-flowered pine is widely used to decorate gardens in regions with mild climates. In the frosty winters of the northern temperate zone, it can freeze slightly, and even die in places exposed to the wind, since it absolutely cannot tolerate prolonged freezing of the soil.

Over the past 10 years, this type of pine has undergone numerous tests in the gardens of the northern temperate zone of Russia. The results obtained allow us to assert that when making the right choice planting sites for small-flowered pine varieties can be recommended for cultivation in Russian gardens.

Pinus parviflora Al Fordham

Medium-sized variety of small-flowered pine. In the first years, columnar growth was observed, with the promotion of several leaders. With age it can take on a bushy form. The needles are green. Annual growth up to 20 cm. Conditionally frost-resistant. May suffer from the rays of the spring sun,

Pinus parviflora Cecilia

Dwarf variety of small-flowered pine. Flattened growth form. The branches develop in a horizontal direction and have a whip-like shape. The needles are green, with a silvery tint. Annual growth is 10-15 cm. Frost-resistant. May suffer from the rays of the spring sun.

Pinus parviflora Fukai

Dwarf variety of small-flowered pine. In the first years it has a narrow columnar shape, over the years it takes on a non-standard pyramidal shape with a pronounced vertical leader and several leading branches growing in the horizontal direction. Early in spring the needles become green-golden and striped. This color lasts throughout the season, up to late autumn. Annual growth is 10-12 cm. Frost-resistant. In spring, the sun can cause you to get very sunburned. Early spring treatments with copper-containing preparations for fungal infections are recommended.

Pinus parviflora Fukuzumi

Dwarf variety of small-flowered pine. Flattened growth form. The branches develop in a horizontal direction and have a whip-like shape. The needles are green, the reverse side of the needles is silver. Annual growth within 15 cm. Frost-resistant. May suffer from the rays of the spring sun.

  • Pinus parviflora Hagoromo . Mini-variety of small-flowered pine. Dense, spherical shape. Green needles, annual growth within 5 cm. Frost-resistant.
  • Pinus parviflora Napu . Mini-variety of small-flowered pine. Flattened, spherical shape. With age, it can put forward a vertical leading shoot. In May, the needles turn white-cream. This color lasts throughout the season, until late autumn. Annual growth is 3-5 cm, frost-resistant. Planted in the sun can burn badly,
  • Pinus parviflora Shikoku (synonym - Shikoku Govo). Dwarf variety of small-flowered pine. In the first years, it has an irregular narrow columnar shape; over the years, the shape becomes pyramidal, with a pronounced vertical leader and several leading branches growing in a horizontal direction. In early spring, the needles become green-golden and striped. This color lasts throughout the season, until late autumn. Annual growth IQ-12 cm. Frost-resistant. May suffer from the rays of the spring sun. Early spring treatments with copper-containing preparations for fungal infections are recommended.
  • Pinus parviflora Tanima-noyuki (synonym - Tani-mano-uki). Mini-variety of small-flowered pine. Flattened, spherical shape. With age, the leading shoot moves forward in the vertical direction. In May, the needles turn white-cream. This color lasts throughout the season, until late autumn. Annual growth is 3-5 cm. Frost-resistant. Planted in the sun can actively burn.
  • Pinus parviflora Tenysukazu (synonyms - Dr. Landis, Goldylocks). Dwarf variety of small-flowered pine. In the first years it has an irregular narrow columnar shape; over the years the shape becomes pyramidal with a pronounced vertical leader and several leading branches growing in the horizontal direction. Early in spring the needles turn bright golden. This color lasts throughout the season, until late autumn. It was first introduced into garden culture in Japan. Annual growth is 7-12 cm. Planted in the sun can actively burn in the spring. Frost-resistant.

Pinus flight- Rumelian pine, or Balkan pine

It grows in the mountainous regions of southern and southeastern Europe. The tree has a narrow pyramidal shape, up to 20 m high. The branches are straight, gray or gray-brown. The bark is gray or brown. The needles are soft, green, with a grayish tint, up to 10 cm in length, collected in bunches of five pieces. The cones are cylindrical, 8-12 cm, ripen in the 3rd year.

Pinus flight Daniel

Mini variety of Rumelian pine. spherical shape. The needles are light green. Annual growth is 2-4 cm. Completely frost-resistant.

Pinus flight Glauca

Medium-sized variety of Rumelian pine. Pyramid shape. The branches are straight. The needles are green-blue. Annual growth is 20-30 cm. Completely frost-resistant. May suffer from the rays of the spring sun.

  • Pinus flight Aureovariegata. Medium-sized variety of Rumelian pine. Pyramid shape. The branches are straight. The needles are green, with cream inserts. Annual growth is 20-30 cm. Completely frost-resistant. May suffer from the rays of the spring sun.
  • Pinus flight Thessalonica Broom. Mini variety of Rumelian pine. spherical shape. The needles are green. Annual growth is 2-4 cm. Completely frost-resistant.
  • Pinus ponderosa- Yellow pine, or Oregon pine. It grows naturally in the western regions of North America.

The height of adult plants reaches 30-35 m. The thickness of the trunk is about 1 m in diameter. The crown is broadly cone-shaped. This variety of pine got its name because of its yellow-brown bark. The needles are green, flexible, soft, up to 25 cm long. The cones are small, cone-cylindrical. After ripening and opening, they increase in size to 7-10 cm. Until recently, it was considered unpromising for cultivation in the gardens of the northern temperate zone of Russia, but in the last 5-7 years positive experience has been gained in growing yellow pine cultivars in our gardens.

Pinus ponderosa Agnieszka

A variegated medium-sized variety of yellow pine. Pyramid shape. The needles are green. 10-12 cm long. In spring it is unevenly colored and becomes striped. The bright golden color lasts until late autumn. Annual growth is 15-20 cm. Conditionally frost-resistant. Successfully grown in several gardens in the Moscow region for 3 years. Final conclusions about the resistance of this variety can only be drawn after longer tests.

Pinus ponderosa K. Riley

Mini variety. Pyramid shape. The needles are green and soft. Annual growth is 5-7 cm. Conditionally frost-resistant. The exact, final dimensions of this variety are unknown.

Pinus ponderosa Gallinas

Mini variety. Round shape. The needles are green and soft. Annual growth is 3-5 cm. Conditionally frost-resistant. The exact, final dimensions of this variety are unknown.

Pinus ponderosa Penaz

Large-sized variety of ponderosa pine. A completely unique variety. Young plants take root for several years and hardly grow. Then they begin to actively grow. Annual growth is 100-120 cm. In 20 years, the tree can reach 25 m in height. Few branches are curved. I am positioned chaotically on the trunk. The needles are green, soft, up to 25 cm long, conditionally frost-resistant. Successfully grown in several gardens in the Moscow region for 3 years. Final conclusions about the resistance of this variety can only be drawn after longer tests.

Pinus pumila- Dwarf pine, or dwarf cedar

Forms thickets and groups in the mountains from Siberia to Japan.

Both the natural form and its cultivars are multi-stemmed trees or shrubs with flexible but elastic shoots. In the highlands, adult fruiting plants do not exceed 30 cm, but in areas with a milder climate and in garden culture they can reach 8 m. Under the weight of snow, the trunks are completely spread out on the ground, which saves the plant in harsh winter conditions. As the snow melts, the trunks straighten, but partially retain their dwarf shape. The shoots of young growth are powerful, densely covered with needle-like needles. The needles are collected in bunches of 5 pieces, bluish-green, soft, more or less twisted, from 5 to 15 cm long. The cones are very similar to the cones of cedar pine, but smaller. The seeds are tasty but small “pine nuts”. They ripen in the second year. In culture, fruiting occurs in the 5-10th year.

Elfin cedar is a very variable plant. In places with harsh conditions growing (for example, on the hills of the Kuril Islands, Sakhalin and Kamchatka), it is of dwarf stature and has brightly colored blue needles. In mountain valleys and in garden culture, the same forms grow and may lose compactness, crown density and the brightness of the color of the needles.

The frost resistance of both the species and its varieties is very high.

Pinus pumila Draijers Dwarf

Pinus pumila Glauca

Dwarf variety of dwarf cedar. In the first years it develops very slowly, maintaining a compact cushion-shaped shape. Subsequently, several leading whip-like shoots begin to extend horizontally, forming a spreading, tiered form. The needles are green-silver, soft. Annual growth is up to 15 cm. Completely frost-resistant.

Pinus pumila Jeddeloh

Dwarf variety of dwarf cedar. In the first years it develops very slowly, maintaining a compact cushion-shaped shape. Subsequently, several leading whip-like shoots begin to extend horizontally, forming a spreading, tiered form. The needles are green-silver, soft. Annual growth up to 15 cm. Completely frost-resistant,

  • Pinus pumila Jeg-2 (SDL). Mini variety of dwarf cedar. In the first years it develops very slowly, maintaining a compact cushion-shaped shape. The needles are green-blue. Subsequently, several leading shoots begin to emerge in a vertical direction. This is a very interesting compact seedling of this variety. Annual growth is 5-7 cm. Completely frost-resistant.
  • Pinus pumila Wohl'a. Mini variety of dwarf cedar. In the first years it develops very slowly, maintaining a compact cushion-shaped shape. The needles are green-blue. Subsequently, several leading shoots begin to emerge in a vertical direction. A very interesting compact seedling of this variety. Annual growth is 5-7 cm. Completely frost-resistant.

Pinus sibirica- Siberian pine, or Siberian cedar pine (Siberian cedar)

A variety of cedar pine - Pinus cembra. Occupies large areas from the headwaters of the Vychegda River in the northeast of European Russia to the headwaters of the Aldan River in Eastern Siberia.

A tall tree, reaching 35-45 m, with a very dense cone-shaped crown. The bark of young plants is smooth, gray, of old ones it is furrowed, gray-brown. The needles are bluish-green, dense, but not hard, up to 13 cm long and about 1.5 cm wide. Collected in bunches of 5 pieces. The cones are grey-brown, erect, up to 13 cm long. The seeds are tasty, fatty “pine nuts”. Cones form only on plants that have reached the age of 40-80 years, so grafting is used to speed up fruiting.

In cultivation it is unpretentious only on well-drained sandy loam and light loamy soils. Absolutely frost-resistant. It has a number of varietal forms, both for fruit and decorative purposes.

The size of annual growth for all varieties of Siberian pine pine is somewhat conditional, since the trial period for varieties of this species is insignificant.

Pinus sibirica Knotweed

Mini variety of Siberian pine. In the first years it develops very slowly, maintaining a compact round shape. Subsequently acquires a rounded oval shape. The needles are green, collected 5 needles in a bunch. Annual growth is within 5-7 cm. Completely frost-resistant.

Pinus sibirica Emerald

Dwarf variety of Siberian pine. In the first years it develops very slowly, maintaining a compact round shape. Subsequently it acquires a round-oval shape. The needles are green-blue, collected 5 needles in a bunch. It is considered one of the bluest Siberian pines. Annual growth is within 10-12 cm. Completely frost-resistant.

Pinus sibirica Icarus

Dwarf variety of Siberian pine. In the first years it develops very slowly, maintaining a compact round shape. Subsequently it takes on an oval shape. The needles are green, collected 5 needles in a bunch. Annual growth is within 10-12 cm. Completely frost-resistant.

Pinus sibirica Stone flower SDL

Micro-variety of Siberian pine. Seedling, Very dense, spherical shape. The needles are green, long, soft. Annual growth within 3 cm. Completely frost-resistant.

Pinus sibirica Oligarch

Dwarf variety of Siberian pine. In the first years it develops very slowly, maintaining a compact round shape. Subsequently it acquires a round-oval shape. The needles are green, short, collected in 5 needles in a bunch. Annual growth is within 10-12 cm. Completely frost-resistant.

Pinus strobus- Weymouth Pine

Grows in the forests of North America. A tree 25-50 m high, similar in appearance to cedar pine. The crown is pyramidal. The branches are short, whorled, horizontally spaced from the trunk. Young shoots are thin, light greenish-brown. The bark of young plants is smooth, gray, shiny, while that of old plants is longitudinally wrinkled. The needles are needle-shaped, collected in bunches of 5 pieces, green-gray, soft, thin, straight, about 10 cm long. The cones are apical, hanging, often curved, light brown-yellow, narrowly cylindrical, 15-20 cm long. The seeds are small. winged, ripen in the second year.

It has varietal forms with different crown types and habit.

Completely frost-resistant, but may suffer from the rays of the spring sun.

Pinus strobus Green Curls

Pinus strobus Prazska Zahrada

Mini variety of Weymouth pine. Round shape. The needles are light green and soft. Annual growth is 3-6 cm. Completely frost-resistant. To avoid breaking, it is advisable to have a winter frame snow shelter.

Pinus strobus Wendy

A new dwarf, possibly medium-sized, variety of Weymouth pine. Round oval shape. The needles are green. After the growing season, young growths are painted a light golden color. With this color the plant goes into winter. Annual growth is within 15 cm. Completely frost-resistant. To avoid breaking, it is advisable to have a winter frame snow shelter.

Pinus strobus Werner

Mini variety of Weymouth pine. spherical shape. The needles are green and soft. Annual growth is 3-5 cm. Completely frost-resistant. To avoid breaking, it is advisable to have a winter frame snow shelter.

  • Pinus strobus Furcata. Dwarf variety of Weymouth pine. Oval-columnar shape. The needles are light green and soft. This variety is characterized by abundant cone formation. Annual growth is 8-12 cm. Completely frost-resistant.
  • Pinus strobus Golden Candles. A new dwarf, possibly medium-sized variegated variety of Weymouth pine. Pyramid shape. The needles are green and unevenly turn creamy yellow in spring. Annual growth is 8-15 cm. Completely frost-resistant.

Pinus sylvestris- Scots pine

Widely distributed throughout Eurasia from temperate climate zone to the polar zone. This species occupies the largest area among all types of pine trees. The habitats of Scots pine are very different - from the plains of Northern and Central Russia to the highlands of Europe. Scots pine is a tree with a height of 20-35 to 50 m. The crown of young plants is broadly pin-shaped with raised branches. The crown of adult plants depends on the growing conditions and can be from pyramidal-umbrella with horizontal-tiered uneven branches on a slender trunk when standing freely to voluminous and uneven in thick, crooked-trunked specimens. The bark of young plants is reddish, of adults - light yellow-brown, flaky.

Needles are needle-shaped, collected in bunches of 2 pieces, hard, prickly, dark bluish-green, straight, 4-7 cm long. Cones are single or collected in 2-3 pieces, gray-brown, matte, pyramidal, about 3 and about 2 cm wide. They ripen in the second year.

In nature, Scots pine is very variable, which is associated with growing conditions. This property made it possible to select spectacular, diverse and numerous varieties. Currently, varietal forms have begun to actively appear in gardens located in the northern temperate zone of Russia.

Pinus sylvestris Albyns

Creeping dwarf variety of Scots pine. The branches are slightly curved, horizontally located. With age they form tiers. The needles are green. Annual growth is within 10-15 cm. Completely frost-resistant.

Pinus sylvestris Bexel WB SDL

Mini variety of Scots pine. Dense, spherical shape. The needles are green and soft. It is advisable to clean the crown of dead needles twice a year. Annual growth is 3-4 cm. Completely frost-resistant. To avoid breaking, it is advisable to have a winter frame snow shelter.

Pinus sylvestris Candlelight

Large-sized variety of Scots pine. Tapeworm. The shape is pyramidal-pin-shaped. The needles are green. After the growing season, young growths turn milky. After about 3-4 weeks, the growths turn yellow, and by the end of summer they turn green again. Annual growth is 30-50 cm. Completely frost-resistant.

Pinus sylvestris Chantry Blue

Dwarf variety of Scots pine. Spherical-oval shape. The needles are green-blue. Annual growth is 10-12 cm. Completely frost-resistant.

  • Pinus sylvestris Doone Valley. Mini variety of Scots pine. Round-tiered shape. The needles are green-blue. Annual growth is 3-6 cm. Completely frost-resistant.
  • Pinus sylvestris Jakutsk. Dwarf variety of Scots pine. Pyramid shape. The needles are green, turning yellow with the onset of autumn cold weather. Annual growth is 10-12 cm. Completely frost-resistant.
  • Pinus sylvestris Meffengowd. Dwarf variety of Scots pine. Pyramidal shape. The needles are green, turning yellow with the onset of autumn cold and remaining golden all winter. Annual growth is 10-12 cm. Completely frost-resistant.
  • Pinus sylvestris Moseri. Mini variety of Scots pine. In the first years it has a very dense, rounded shape. With age it becomes oval-ovoid. It is advisable to clean the crown of dead needles twice a year. The needles are green, turning yellow with the onset of autumn cold and remaining golden all winter. Annual growth is 7-10 cm. Completely frost-resistant. Requires precise light landing location.
  • Pinus sylvestris Trollguld. Dwarf variety of Scots pine. Pyramid shape. The needles are green-golden throughout the year. Depending on the time of year, the intensity of the golden color changes. The peak intensity of the yellow-golden color occurs in early spring. Annual growth is 10-12 cm. Completely frost-resistant.
  • Pinus sylvestris Watereri. Medium-sized variety of Scots pine. Round, slightly spreading shape. There is no pronounced leading shoot. Large branches have a vertical direction of growth. The needles are dark green. Annual growth is 15-25 cm. Completely frost-resistant. In the first years after planting, it may suffer from the rays of the spring sun. To prevent branches from breaking under the weight of snow, it is advisable to tie them in late autumn or early winter.

Growing pine trees in the country: planting and agricultural care (with photos)

When growing pine trees in your dacha, keep in mind that these are one of the most light-loving conifers. Only in open areas do they acquire a typical crown shape. In shaded areas and dense plantings, pine trees are not decorative.

For planting and caring for pine trees, it is better to use sandy loam or loose, well-drained, slightly acidic loam. Dwarf varietal forms prefer nutritious loose loams - only on such soils do they have a dense, compact crown.

Pines need additional nutrition less than other conifers. Only young plants can be fed in the spring after the snow melts on wet soil with a light complex or combined mineral fertilizer. When growing and caring for pine trees, do not overdo it with fertilizers: excessive nitrogen fertilizing, especially fresh manure or feces, can lead to plant death.

Transplantation should be carried out either in the spring before buds open, or in the fall. Deepening of the root collar is unacceptable. Plants with actively growing shoots take root extremely poorly. Young trees tolerate replanting relatively easily; large pines taken from nature do not take root. Large garden specimens can be replanted only after preliminary preparation of the root ball, which consists of repeated pruning of the roots 6-12 months before the planned replanting.

These photos show the correct planting and care of pine trees in the country:

When caring for pine trees in the country, be moderate in watering. Most types of pine trees are dry-loving and absolutely cannot tolerate stagnant and groundwater. Adult, well-developed specimens are extremely drought-resistant.

In order to care for pine trees as proper agricultural technology suggests, do not forget that all representatives of the genus are cold-tolerant, but the frost resistance of species varies. Most of them, unfortunately, are not able to withstand a frosty winter for a long time, and many species, although they can survive short-term frosts, die when the root ball freezes. At the same time, adult specimens of all species are more resistant to cold than young ones, so in gardens in regions with a temperate climate it is possible to grow even such heat-loving pines as P. brutia, densiflora, parviflora and pinea.

Of course, even after gaining strength, these plants will never look as luxurious as in their homeland, but, provided that young specimens are provided with winter shelter, they may well replenish the collection of conifers.

When caring for pine trees, young plants and low-growing varietal forms that need shelter can easily be insulated for the winter with a hut made of spruce branches. It is almost impossible to protect large specimens of pines from frost; it is for this reason that heat-loving subtropical species are not considered in our manual.

Following the rules of agricultural technology, in the spring, for the uniform awakening of weak plants, it is recommended to abundant watering, spraying and shading from sun rays. It is very important to water the soil after a frosty winter.

The next section of the article is devoted to the use of pine trees in landscape design.

The use of pine trees in garden landscape design (with photos)

All pine trees have a number of characteristic attractive features, combining majesty and grace with monumentality and even some roughness of the branches, contrasting with the elegance of the needles. It is not surprising that in the design of gardens around the world, pine trees are one of the most common and favorite coniferous plants. A species suitable for cultivation can be selected for almost any climate zone, so pine trees can be found next to palm trees in southern gardens and next to heathers in gardens beyond the Arctic Circle.

Look how beautiful compositions with pine trees are in landscape design:

Pines are used in different ways. In the south - to introduce a northern flavor and create a contrast with the rough foliage of evergreens, in the north - as one of the main and most hardy plant materials. Large pines are especially good when planted as single specimens and in light groves.

As you can see in the photo, dwarf pines in garden design and dwarf forms are indispensable for small areas when creating compositions of mixborders and rockeries:

Pine trees are of little use for trimming, but are very good for forming a curly crown. Compact specimens can be easily and fairly quickly obtained by regularly breaking out growth buds in autumn or early spring and shortening growing shoots in summer.

Finally, learn how to grow pine from seeds.

Reproduction when growing pine trees in the country: how to grow a tree from seeds

In practical pine gardening, the propagation of pine trees is carried out in two ways: natural - by seeds, and varietal grafting. Growing varietal varieties from seeds is used only to obtain new forms. Theoretically, propagation by cuttings and layering is possible, but it is associated with such great difficulties that it makes no sense to consider it.

All pines are very easily propagated by seeds. When storing high-quality seeds under normal conditions, germination is lost after 1.5-2 years, and in an airtight container at a temperature of 0 +5 C it persists for more than 15 years. Seeds with damaged covers are not stored and require immediate germination.

Seeds freshly fallen from cones are not ready for immediate cultivation of pine trees, as they have a “dormant” embryo. Before, a period of even low positive temperatures is necessary to awaken the seed embryo. For species in which the needles are collected in a bunch of 2 pieces, this period is approximately 2-3 months, for species with a bunch of 3-5 or more needles - 4-6 months. Scarification (disturbance of the seed cover before sowing) is not required for pine trees.

Seeds for propagation of pine trees are germinated in the following ways:

  • Pre-winter sowing. Seeds are sown in a ridge to a depth of 1.5-2 cm and mulched with loose soil to a height of 1-1.5 cm. In the spring, after the emergence of seedlings, the plants, pinching the root, are planted or left on the ridge until autumn or next spring.
  • Snowmaking. In autumn or winter, the seeds are sown in boxes, then the crops are kept warm for 1-2 weeks, after which they are transferred outside and dug into the snow until spring. Shoots appear in late spring - early summer; they are planted into a ridge or left in boxes until autumn.
  • Cold stratification. At the end of winter, the seeds are mixed with coarse, clean, slightly damp sand, sawdust or sphagnum moss and placed in plastic bags or boxes, which are stored in the refrigerator or basement at a temperature of +3...+5 ᵒC for 1-3 or 4-6 months, depending from the view.

You can sow seeds in boxes or bowls in an earthen mixture consisting of rotted leaf soil, peat and coarse sifted sand in a ratio of 3:1:1, and store in the refrigerator or basement in the same way as seeds placed in plastic bags, maintaining a constant temperature and even moderate humidity of the substrate.

After the stratification period is completed, the seeds that were stored in bags are washed and sown in boxes or bowls and exposed to light at a temperature of +18...+23 °C. Seedlings are kept in the light, avoiding direct sunlight, and watered moderately.

If the seedlings are too dense, they are picked. Young pine seedlings are very sensitive to waterlogging - excessive watering will inevitably lead to the death of the roots. If the seedlings develop normally, then when it gets warm, the boxes are taken out into the garden, where, after gradually acclimating them to the sun and fresh air, they are planted in a ridge. Young plants tolerate transplantation absolutely painlessly.

Varietal characteristics during seed propagation are determined only in the third or fourth year of cultivation, but the percentage of varietal correspondence is very small.


Perhaps even those who know this majestic tree only from pictures from a school textbook on botany and reproductions of paintings by the great Russian artist I.I. have heard about how pine grows and what it looks like, about its beauty and benefits for nature and people. Shishkina. Those who have at least once visited a park with soaring pine trees or pine forest, they will forever remember the incomparable pine-cone smell and intoxicatingly clean air. And it’s not surprising: scientists have long determined that per 1 cubic meter. meter of air in a pine forest contains only 500 (!) microbes, while in 1 cubic meter. per meter of metropolis air there are 36 thousand (!!!) microbes. Willy-nilly, you will remember how pine air smells... The fact that even within a radius of 5 km speaks about how useful pine is. The air from the pine forest is healing and ionized. It is not surprising that Scots pine is grown with great pleasure both in hospital nurseries and forestry enterprises, as well as in gardens, and recently it has even begun to appear in some private rural houses in the steppe zone.

First acquaintance with pine

Scots pine (or Pinus sylvestris) is one of 120 species of the large genus Pine, a tree whose distribution range extends from Spain to Lapland and from the British Isles to Mongolia and China inclusive. There are at least three versions of the origin of its Latin species name. According to the first, the word "pinus" comes from the Celtic "pin", meaning "rock", "mountain", and is roughly translated as "growing on the rocks"; the second version derives the word "pinus" from the Latin "pix" or "picis", which means "resinous tree". The third version connects this name with Greek mythology and tells us the sad story of the beautiful nymph Pitis, whom the northern wind Boreas, who was in love with her, out of jealousy, turned into a tree that looks like a modern pine. Another version of the legend says that the nymph herself turned into a pine tree (or asked Zeus to carry out the transformation) in order to avoid the claims of Boreas. How it really was, probably even Clio, who sometimes has a very selective girlish memory, does not know, but each of the versions in its own way reflects the characteristics of the pine tree, which can take root on any, even the most unfavorable soils. True, its trunk directly depends on the conditions in which the pine tree has to live. The picture that is familiar to us in the form of an upright resinous tree proudly directed upward is not the only option which can be found in nature.

The height of the pine tree, depending on its age, ranges from 25 to 40 meters, but there are specimens reaching 42 meters in height. Unfortunately, such tall pines, which were once called “ship pines,” grow only on the southern coast Baltic Sea yes in some reserves. In many areas, it is a very common practice to cut down young pine trees that have reached the age of 70-80 years, at which time they have a height of only 20-25 meters, although the tree can live up to 400-500 years and reach a height of 50, or even 70 meters. Perhaps this is due to the fact that pine, for all its might, often gets sick various diseases, perhaps there are other reasons, but the fact remains: for now, pines of venerable age and impressive height can only be found in the depths of the taiga, in biological reserves or in those places where a forester or inspector from the nearest forestry has not yet set foot.

In its natural habitat, pine can be found in the most unexpected places:

  1. as an admixture in deciduous, spruce and fir forests.
  2. in open areas, where it often takes on a spreading appearance.
  3. in the mountains, where it rises to the upper border of the forest to a height of 2.5 km. in the south and up to 1 km. in the north above sea level.
  4. in the steppe and forest-steppe zones that are alien to it as a fixer of sands and ravine slopes, preventing their spread.
  5. like a vast homogeneous forest area (pine forest).

Depending on the area of ​​distribution, scientists distinguish three varieties and about 30 ecotypes within the Scots pine species, often named after the area where they grow. For example, pine from the Angara River basin is classified as “Angara type of Scots pine.” External differences between ecotypes are insignificant, but varieties can differ significantly in height, appearance and growth rate. For example, the lapponica variety, native to Scandinavia and northern Russia, has shorter and stiffer needles, yellowish-brown seeds, and often looks like a creeping shrub, although specimens up to 30 meters high can be found on the Solovetsky Islands (Russia). The variety mongolica, characteristic of Mongolia, southern Siberia and northwestern China, has a more familiar appearance to us. By the way, she also owns the peculiar height record we mentioned in passing: in the Sokhondo Natural Biosphere Reserve (Chita Region, Russia) a “Mongolica” pine grows 42 meters high. Finally, the Steven variety has “climbed” the highest: it can be found in the Balkans, northern Turkey and Transcaucasia at an altitude of 2600 meters above sea level.

In addition to them, there are several slow-growing dwarf varieties that attract the eye with their unusual appearance. One of them became known back in 1865 thanks to the famous English breeder Anthony Waterer, who discovered it in the vicinity of his Knap Hill estate (England), and was subsequently named after him. The nursery founded by him in this area also bears the name of the scientist.

Description of pine

Scots pine is so unpretentious that it can be found in soil of any degree of severity and suitability: sandy and sandy loam, rocky mountain and chalk, even in peat bogs and permafrost conditions. True, it will look different everywhere, and a picturesquely gnarled tree growing “lonely in the wild north” or on a mountain slope is unlikely to recognize its “sister” in a one-meter dwarf huddled in a swamp. And even more so, the majestic taiga pine from the Angara River basin or the Baltic ship pine will look down on them both. However, all these will be trees of the same species... The pine owes such unpretentiousness primarily to its root system, which can adapt to any living conditions. If the soil is loose and has good drainage, and groundwater They do not lie very deep from the surface, the root has the appearance of a powerful rod. Dry sands with deep waters promote the development of lateral roots - this is how the pine “expands”, becoming spreading. These same lateral roots allow it to survive in the mountains, anchoring the tree in rocky soil and “collecting” precipitation. But a pine tree growing in a swamp, due to the nature of the soil, has a poorly developed root system, and therefore looks like a weak dwarf even at the venerable age of a century.

Among other trees, pine stands out not only for its unpretentiousness and trunk, which is formed depending on the circumstances, but also for its highly raised crown, cone-shaped in youth, and then round and wide, in the form of an umbrella. Sometimes there are specimens with weeping and pyramidal types of crowns. The average length of needles is about 5-6 cm, although it can vary depending on living conditions, intraspecific forms and age (in young pines the needles are longer and can reach up to 9 cm, in old ones they are shorter). Three characteristics remain unchanged: trihedral, needle-like, and the presence of stomata on the underside, through which the tree exchanges gases with the atmosphere. The needles are arranged in bunches, with two in each bunch. They usually stay on the tree for two to three years, then fall off, giving way to new needles, and lie in pairs on the forest floor. The color of the needles is predominantly bluish-green.

Another remarkable feature of pine is its cones, which are divided into two types: male and female. They form on individual trees, since pine is a monoecious plant. Usually the “sex” of a pine tree is inherited, but there may be cases when it can change under the influence of growing conditions and the environment. That is, a pine tree that once had male cones may well, over time, change them to female ones.

Male cones are oblong, have a length of 8 to 12 cm and are yellow or pink in color, female cones are from 3 to 7.5 cm long, cone-shaped, grow singly or in two or three pieces, their color when ripe varies from gray to gray. light brown to gray-green. Both types of cones are covered with near-diamond-shaped flat or slightly convex scales with a pointed apex, sometimes having a hooked appearance. They ripen slowly, 18-20 months after May-June flowering and pollination - that is, in November-December - and the seeds fly out of the cone another two to three months, in the spring. During this time, not only the formation of seeds occurs, but also the growth of the cones themselves, which can be seen by their color changing from green to light brown. Each seed is 4-5 mm in size. It has a membranous wing, thanks to which it can fly over a considerable distance. True, the survival rate of the seeds is not one hundred percent, otherwise the pines would probably have long ago reached the Cape of Good Hope and the islands of the Indonesian archipelago. In an ordinary pine forest of one hectare, about 120 million seeds fall annually, but less than one tenth of them germinate - only about 10 million seedlings. On average, about 500-600 trees grow in a hundred-year-old pine forest. There are many reasons for this: competition between plants, grass burning in the spring, lack of sunlight... Some seedlings can simply be trampled, and most seeds die without even getting into the soil (this is often prevented by grasses and forest mosses). That is, as you can see, the theory natural selection Charles Darwin is familiar even to this seemingly mighty plant.

Pine tree in the yard

From all of the above, it is easy to understand that pine will fit perfectly into a country garden or rural landscape, either as part of a group planting or as a tapeworm. The benefits of such a “garden resident” can hardly be overestimated: in addition to the fact that it purifies the air and makes it incredibly intoxicating and healing, pine is also simply a beautiful tree that grows relatively quickly, especially at the age of 10 to 40 years, and retains its decorative value all year round and under favorable conditions it can delight the eyes of even your distant descendants. If you live near a pine forest, then there is a high probability that one fine day a young pine seedling will spontaneously appear behind your fence in the form of a weed. Such an appearance can truly be considered a gift of fate, and it should be treated appropriately, and not like a weed. You can try to plant a pine tree yourself, even if you are a resident of the steppe zone: the probability of success of this undertaking is very high. However, before planting a pine tree, you should consider some nuances:

  1. the thickness of its trunk can reach from 1 to 1.2 meters, and the older the pine tree becomes, the taller and more voluminous it will be. Therefore, there should be enough space in your garden for the pine tree to feel comfortable.
  2. for all its unpretentiousness, it is light-loving and does not tolerate shading. This can be noticed even in natural conditions: if you have been to a pine forest, you have probably noticed that the pines growing there are the same in height. This is the result of the features we mentioned. That is, you need to choose an open and sunny place for it. An exception is made for young animals: in the first years of life it is recommended to shade them from the bright spring sun. In the same forest, young plants are given the necessary shade by their older comrades.
  3. if you want to plant several pines, then the distance between them should be at least four meters, and between low-growing ones - at least one and a half meters.

How to plant a pine tree correctly

Planting and caring for pine trees is not particularly difficult. Somewhat more complex and nuanced, as with other trees or plants, is preparation for planting. It is believed that it is best to plant pine in mid-spring, when the soil is warm enough, or in early autumn. The first option is good because it allows her to settle down in a new place over the summer, get used to it and prepare for winter, which always comes suddenly; in the second case, the tree slows down all life processes and is thus able to relatively calmly endure such dramatic changes in its life. You can also find references to later plantings of pine, but in this case the seedling should be insulated and protected from excessive activity of the spring sun, covered with spruce branches, spunbond or any other covering material. You can remove the protection in the spring.

You can get planting material in three ways:

  1. grown from seeds (a separate section will be devoted to this).
  2. purchased from a nursery.
  3. digging in the wild.

The most reliable way is to purchase it from a nursery: not only will they sell you a seedling of the required age and with intact roots, but they will also give you a whole lecture on how to plant a pine tree on your property. True, this method has a couple of disadvantages. Firstly, there are cases when a pine tree already infected with some insidious disease or pests ends up in a nursery. But, as they say, “if you are afraid of diseases, do not buy pine trees,” especially since this risk is insignificant, and we mention it only just in case. In addition, when purchasing, you always have the opportunity to inspect the seedling offered to you and check it for fragility. If the needles have yellow, and the tips of the branches break easily, there is a very high probability that the seedling is sick and will soon die.

Secondly (and, probably, “the most offensive”), there may simply not be the right nursery in your region. In this case, you can try to purchase pine online with home delivery or go to the nursery yourself, even if it is far away. True, this may not be cheap, but if you have such an opportunity, then why not try?

Finally, the freest option is to dig up the pine tree yourself. Not all experts advise resorting to this method, explaining their attitude by saying that the seedling should be dug up very carefully so as not to damage the root system. In addition, in their opinion, pines transplanted in this way rarely take root and often die next year. There are very different opinions on this matter, but if you still decide to try to get pine yourself, a few tips on this matter will certainly be useful.

It is best to choose a tree that will die if it is not replanted. This does not mean that it must be infected with something: a pine tree can die as a result of “natural selection”, which we wrote about above, or by growing in an unfavorable place for it (yes, there are such things - for example, steep hillsides, on which the pine tree may simply not be able to stand during the growth process). Pine trees are also doomed to die in places where there is intense human activity. Replanting such trees can give them a chance to escape, and you can contribute to preserving the atmosphere of the entire planet.

Having obtained a pine tree, you should look for a place for it, prepare a hole and only then plant it. The size of the planting hole should correspond to the size and shape of the soil clod with which the tree will be transplanted. The logic is simple: the larger the lump, the less damage the seedling will receive. For example, for pine trees up to 70 cm high, you need a hole measuring at least 60x60, and for trees over 70 cm, at least 80x80. The depth also depends on the height of the plant, but some experts recommend digging a hole 10 cm higher than the height of the seedling. As for the size of the coma, it’s even simpler here. It is believed that all conifers live in symbiosis with soil fungi and form mycorrhiza - a kind of fungal root. Therefore, the more native land that moves along with the pine tree to a new location, the better.

You need to dig up a pine tree carefully, remembering that it primarily has a tap root, and trying not to cut it or damage it. When digging, you can use a large wet piece of cloth. Having plucked and lifted the earthen lump with the pine tree, you should slip the fabric under the shovel, straighten it, lower the lump from the shovel onto it and wrap the fabric tightly near the lump. You can also use a thin cotton sheet, with which you can plant the seedling in the planting hole. The sheet will rot quickly and will not interfere with the development of the root system. Sometimes it is advised to pay attention to the so-called. “southern branch” - i.e. remember or mark the branch that faces south. When planting a seedling in the yard, it is advisable that it also be oriented to the south. Although many gardeners admitted that they lost these marks and planted pines without taking them into account, the result was the same.

Under no circumstances should you plant pine trees in garden soil. No matter how unpretentious it is, pine does not like soil rich in organic matter. The best soil for it is light, breathable sandy or sandy loam. If you can offer the pine loam or clay soil, you should definitely make good drainage by adding a layer of sand or expanded clay with fine gravel and broken brick 20 cm thick to the planting hole. Sometimes 50 grams are added there. nitrophoska. Depending on the area where you are planting pine, you can add a mixture of turf soil, topsoil and river sand or clay in a 2:2:1 ratio to the hole. Also, you cannot replant a pine tree with bare roots, otherwise the root system will die in ten to fifteen minutes.

When planting, you should thoroughly water the hole (usually half a bucket of water is enough), then lower the seedling into it and, if necessary, adjust its size by adding or removing soil. Sometimes the pit voids are filled with a sand-earth mixture. After this, the poured soil is moderately trampled down to avoid the formation of air cavities around the roots, but the soil should not be too dense. The tree should be planted so that the root collar is at ground level, and in a large specimen even slightly raised, otherwise it will rot and the pine will die. The seedling planted in this way should be mulched and then watered again, this time using a watering can with a nozzle so as not to wash out the soil.

Sometimes you may come across the question: is it necessary to apply fertilizer when planting a pine tree? It all depends on what soil it is planted in. It is known from practice that sometimes pure sand taken from a pine forest and mixed with fertile soil is used as fertilizer. You can purchase special fertilizer for coniferous plants or use mature compost. If the soil in which you plant a pine tree has not been used before, then it will have enough of its own minerals, so you don’t need to apply fertilizers.

After you have done all these steps, all you have to do is be patient and wait, watering the pine tree about once a week early in the morning or after sunset until it begins to grow branches. After this, watering can be reduced.

Caring for a young pine tree is no different from caring for any other transplanted tree. From time to time, you should mulch it, remove diseased and dried branches, weed out large grass around the seedling, water it during excessively dry periods or in the fall, after leaf fall. The need for watering can be easily determined by taking a handful of soil from the tree trunk and squeezing it in your fist. If it is loose and crumbles at the slightest compression, then it’s time to water.

If you planted a pine tree in the fall, it should be insulated for the winter using one of the above methods, and protected from the sun in the spring by spraying it twice with epin at an interval of two to three weeks.

An unusual method of transplantation

Despite the fact that experts recommend planting pine trees in the spring, one can come across the statement that coniferous trees cannot be replanted in the spring, since they begin to grow very quickly, and the soil in a number of regions of Russia by this time is still frozen or has not warmed up enough. For this case, another method is proposed - folk:

  1. choose a tree suitable for transplanting.
  2. to a depth of one shovel bayonet, cut the soil around the trunk in the form of a circle with a diameter ten times greater than the diameter of the tree trunk.
  3. mark the pine tree in any safe and not very noticeable way and leave it until autumn.

Pinus, Pine. Evergreen monoecious trees with a pyramidal crown in youth, spherical or umbrella-shaped in old age, less often shrubs or dwarf trees.

They are considered to be long-lived. In adulthood, the bark of trees is thick, dark gray, and fissured. The needles are triangular or flattened, located on short shoots in bunches of (1-)2-5(-8) green needles, long and narrow, usually remain on the shoots for 3-6 years, jagged along the edges. The cones vary in size and shape. Pollination occurs before the young needles bloom, fertilization occurs after the cones overwinter - in the spring, i.e. one year after pollination. Mature pine needles are hard, prickly, narrow (1-2 mm); its length in different species varies from 2 to 30 cm (up to 45 cm in swamp pine - Pinus palustris). In two-cone pines it is flat-convex in cross-section, in three- and five-cone pines it is triangular or sectoral. The needles live from 2-3 to 6-11 years. It usually dies off in late summer and autumn.

Types and varieties of pine trees

The genus contains about 100 species, distributed in forests temperate zone and in the mountainous regions of the subtropical zone of the Northern Hemisphere, 9 species naturally grow in Russia.

Over 50 species are cultivated.

Most pines are fast-growing and long-lived trees (can live up to 350-500 years). The record holder among long-lived trees also belongs to this genus - bristlecone pine, or long-lived (Pinus longaeva), the age of the oldest tree is determined quite accurately, it is more than 4700 years old, it was given the name “Oldest Man”.

The genus Pine is divided into two main subgenera: Pinus, or Hardwood Pines And Strobus, or Softwood pines.

SUBGENUS PINUS

Subgenus Pinus, section of double-leaved pines (Pinus, Eupitys)

Scots pine, or forest pine (Pinus sylvestris)

Tree up to 35 m tall (in nature from 20 to 45 m tall), native to the forests of Eurasia (grows from Western Europe to the Far East). The needles are dark green above, gray-green below, hard, and may curl slightly. Grows quickly - up to 20 cm per year. Used as a rootstock for decorative varieties of double-leaved pines. An interesting low-growing cultivar (up to 7.5 m tall) ‘ Waterery’ with a steel-blue crown.

Popular varieties of the common variety:

Aurea’ (‘Wintergold’) is a slow-growing shrub up to 1 m tall with a dense but uneven crown. The needles are yellow-green in spring and summer, golden-yellow in winter;

Argentea Compacta’ - tree up to 2 m tall. The needles are silver-gray, long;

Done Wiley’ - distinguished by an intense blue color;

Fastigiata’ is a tree with a columnar crown up to 15 m tall. The needles are bluish-green;

Globosa Viridis’ - shrub up to 1.5 m tall. The crown is ovoid. The needles are long, dark green;

Watereri’ - in adulthood, this is a multi-stemmed tree up to 4 m high with a wide, unevenly rounded crown; young plants have an almost spherical shape.

Black pine, or Austrian pine (Pinus nigra)

Tree up to 25 m tall of European origin (Alps, Carpathians). The crown becomes umbrella-shaped with age, the bark is dark. The needles are hard, dark green. The only pine tree that can grow in partial shade. IN harsh winters young growth may freeze slightly.

Variety ‘ Pyramidalis’ is a tree with a pyramidal crown up to 6 m tall, the needles are dark green and elastic.

Crimean pine, or Pallas pine (Pinus pallasiana)

Tree 30 m tall with dark gray fissured bark. Some taxonomists consider it a variety of s. black. The needles are short, dark, hard, 8-18 cm long. S. Crimean is light-loving, drought-resistant and is considered heat-loving, but in cultivation in Ufa it has shown itself to be quite winter-hardy.

Mountain shrub pine, or zherep (Pinus mugo)

An unpretentious species from the mountains of Western Europe, where it grows at altitudes of up to 2500 m in the subalpine and alpine zones. Tree 2-4 m (up to 10 m) tall or dwarf. The needles are thick, dark green, short (2-5 cm); the needles are collected in bundles of 2 pieces, twisted. It grows slowly and often takes root from the lower branches. The species tolerates heat and high humidity well. Dwarf forms are divided into 2 varieties: mountain pine (var. mughus)- shrub form, up to 2 m in height with short raised shoots and mountain dwarf pine (var. pumilio)- low growing shrub with creeping shoots.

Popular varieties and forms of mountain pine:

‘Pumilio’ (Pinus mugo ssp. pumilio - Mountain dwarf pine)- up to 3 m in height and width, with branches directed upward;

'Allgo'- dwarf spherical shape with very short shoots;

'Hesse'- dwarf shrub up to 50 cm tall;

'Gnom'- up to 2 m tall, with a very dense spherical crown;

'Kobold'- up to 1 m tall, with a wide spherical crown;

'Columba'- a tree with a dense crown or more often a rounded shrub up to 3.5 m tall;

'Humpy'- spherical dwarf form, 1x1.5 m, with very short needles;

'Mops'- dwarf rounded shape no more than 1.5 m;

'Mughus'- prostrate creeping shrub up to 2 m tall;

'Mumpitz'- dwarf cone-shaped;

'Ophir'- flat-pin-shaped, 0.4x0.6 m, on the sunny side the needles are yellow-orange, on the shady side - green;

'Frisia'- up to 2 m tall, with a dense crown, strictly straight branches;

'Winter Gold'- dwarf spherical shape, 0.5x1 m, the needles are light green in summer, turning golden yellow in winter;

‘Carstens Wintergold’- cushion-shaped form of dwarf or medium size, when blooming the needles are light yellow, then light green, in the fall - golden or bronze

Banks pine (Pinus banksiana)

A tree up to 25 m tall, native to Canada with reddish bark and strongly curved needles.

Subgenus Pinus, section of three-coniferous pines (Trifoliae)

In the section of three-coniferous pines ( Trifoliae) there is one North American species of interest - yellow pine, or Oregon (Pinus ponderosa). A tree in nature over 50 m tall with a conical openwork crown, thick red-brown (to black) bark and arched branches. The needles are long (up to 12-26 cm), pointed. In severe winters it can freeze.

SUBGENUS STROBUS, or SOFT WOOD PINES (Strobus, Haploxylon)

Quite popular and widespread are pine species from the subgenus Softwood Pines. As the name implies, they have relatively soft wood, the needles are collected in 5 pieces on brachyblasts, thin, 4-20 cm long.

Subgenus Strobus, section Cembra, or Cedar pines (Cembrae)

Includes a number of species commonly called cedars. There are 3 types of cedar pines growing in Russia.

Siberian pine pine, or Siberian cedar (Pinus sibirica)

A slow-growing, straight-trunked tree up to 20 m tall (in nature, under favorable conditions, up to 40 m). The crown is dense, usually ovoid. The needles are 6-13 cm long, dark green with bluish stripes. Long-lived, lives up to 500 years.

The main value of Siberian cedar is food; 1 hectare of cedar forests yields up to 5 tons of nuts per turnover of logging (their cost is 3 times higher than the cost of harvested cedar wood). Nut kernels contain up to 60% or more cedar oil. Resin, essential oils and vitamin C are extracted from pine needles and are actively used in medicine.

Korean pine, or Korean cedar (Pinus koraiensis)

A tree up to 40 m tall, grows naturally in Primorye and along the left bank of the Amur. The crown is broadly cone-shaped, low-slung. The needles are 7-15 cm long, bluish-green, with white stripes on the sides, thick. The species is shade-tolerant and more demanding of heat, interesting as decorative look in the Urals.

Cedar dwarf pine, or dwarf cedar (Pinus pumila)

A tree up to 3-4 m tall, dwarf or bush-like, native to Siberia. The needles are 4-8 cm long, thick. The branches often spread along the ground, slightly rising at the ends. It grows slowly. With the onset of frost, the branches of the plant fall down and are covered with snow. Variety ‘ Globe’ has a voluminous spherical crown with straight dove-blue needles.

Another species from this section that deserves wider distribution European cedar pine, or European cedar (Pinus cembra) grows in the mountains of Central Europe. Tree up to 25 m tall with a spreading crown, long and thin needles.

Pine wood is extremely valuable for its physical and mechanical properties. Widely used in the form of round timber and lumber, in construction, furniture industry. Turpentine and rosin are obtained from pine resin. The needles provide vitamin C and essential oil.

Subgenus Strobus, section Strobus, or Weymouth pines (Strobus)

The section is widely represented outside of Russia, but many species are bred as introduced species.

Weymouth pine (Pinus strobus)

North American tall (up to 50-60 m) tree with smooth light gray bark and a pyramidal openwork crown. The needles are 6-14 cm long, bluish-green, very thin, soft. The fastest growing of the five-needled pines, it is undemanding to soil and moisture.

Variety ‘ Radiata' - distinguished by a spherical crown up to 1.5-2 m in height and width, bluish needles, popular variety ' Nana’ is a creeping plant up to 2 m tall with silvery blue-green needles.

Pine tree care

Ecologically, the genus is heterogeneous. Among the pine species there are xero- and mesophytes, heat-loving and low-demanding to heat. But what is common to all species is the need for light and low smoke and drought resistance.

When planting, it is important not to deepen the root collar. Pines prefer sandy and sandy loam soils, but do not have any special requirements for soil fertility. On heavy soils, drainage is required; on sandy soils, clay is added. Plants are drought-resistant. In the spring, young annual growths can be shortened, which will help reduce the growth of the tree and form a denser crown. Planted plants are watered during dry summers, and the soil is loosened when compacted. Young pines of rare varieties are sensitive to early spring sunburn, so they are shaded in late autumn.

By pruning parts of the annual growth, the growth of shoots is slowed down and the crown is made denser.

Reproduction of pine trees

Pines are propagated by seeds, cultivars by grafting.


Taxonomy
on Wikispecies

Images
on Wikimedia Commons
ITIS
NCBI
EOL
GRIN g:9418
IPNI 11681-1

Species of pine that produce edible nuts are conventionally grouped under the name cedar pines. However, we must remember that Cedar ( Cedrus) is another genus of trees in the same family, and pine fruits are not nuts in the botanical sense.

Name

One of the two versions produces Latin name tree from the Celtic word pin, which means rock, mountain, that is growing on rocks, the other is from Latin words pix, picis, which means resin, that is resinous tree.

Biological characteristics

Area

In Russia, the genus is represented by 16 wild and 73 species of pine trees introduced in the open ground.

Of the species growing wild in Russia and neighboring countries, the one that most deserves attention is Scots Pine ( Pinus sylvestris). This is a large tree up to 40 m in height with a crown that is pyramidal in youth and umbrella-shaped in old age. The needles of the needles sit 2 together, dark green below, bluish-green above, mostly 4-5 cm long. The bark is red-brown. The cones (young) are conical in shape, their shield of scales is rhombic in shape. Seeds with a long wing.

Pine is extremely common throughout northern Russia and most of Siberia and forms both pure forests and forests mixed with spruce and other species. Pine forests are especially typical for sandy soil and rocky substrate. South of the line passing through Kiev, then along the Oka River to the mouth of the Tsna River, then through Kazan and along the Kama and Belaya rivers to Ufa, pine is found very rarely and sporadically, forming small groves on calcareous and chalk slopes, as well as on sand. It is believed that in this area pine was once more common than it is now, but then began to die out due to centuries of climate change. South of Kamenets-Podolsk, Dnepropetrovsk, Saratov and Orenburg, pine is not found in the steppes, but appears again in the Caucasus, where it grows in many places. It is also found sporadically in northern Turkestan, in the mountains of Kokshetau, Karkaraly and others, and to the east along Siberia it reaches almost to the Pacific Ocean. In the Krasnoyarsk Territory, Scots pine is represented by three subspecies: Kulunda (Minusinsk forests); Siberian (most regions of the region) and Lapland (north of 62° N).

Another type of pine, distributed mainly in Siberia, is the Siberian cedar ( Pinus sibirica Du Tour). In the Amur region, a third species of pine appears, close to the previous one - Korean cedar ( Pinus koraiensis Siebold & Zucc.), with more elongated cones and seeds.

Taxonomy

Subgenera and species

Ducampopinus Strobus Pinus
  • Pinus aristata
  • Pinus bungeana
  • Pinus cembroides
  • Pinus gerardiana
  • Pinus krempfii
  • Pinus monophylla
  • Pinus amamiana
  • Pinus armandii
  • Pinus ayacahuite
  • Pinus bhutanica
  • Pinus cembra
  • Pinus fenzeliana
  • Pinus flexilis
  • Pinus monticola
  • Pinus morrisonicola
  • Pinus parviflora
  • Pinus peuce
  • Pinus strobiformis
  • Pinus wallichiana

Meaning and Application

Industrial use

Today, at the beginning of the 21st century, pine wood is used as:

  • Saw logs for lumber production
  • Shipbuilding Ridge
  • Deck timber for the production of deck and boat lumber
  • Aviation Ridge
  • Riveted logs for producing parts for barrel containers (for jellied, dry barrels and boxes)
  • Tarny Ridge
  • Pulp pulp
  • Mast and hydraulic construction logs
  • Mine longevity and mine stand
  • when stretched along the fibers: 90-95 MPa,
  • when stretched across the fibers (when splitting): 6-8 MPa,
  • when bending: 80-85 MPa.

Cultivation

Pine is one of the very light-loving tree species, but, nevertheless, it often forms pure stands. The reason for this is that it is one of the least demanding tree species, and therefore can grow in such infertile soils where the growth of other trees is almost impossible.

This is due to the fact that pine has a superficial type of root system, which can develop in a thin (1-2 cm) layer of fertile soil lying on sand. For example, in Karelia, pine trees can have an extensive root system (with individual root shoots up to 20 meters long in mature trees), located in a layer only 1 cm thick. Typical soils for pure pine plantations are dry sandy ones, on which pine forests are populated. Characteristic feature of such pine forests is their uniform age, explained by the fact that even in the least populated areas they suffer greatly from forest fires and, easily seeded after each of them, grow again in the form of even-aged plantings.

In typical pine forest areas, birch, white alder, and some willows are occasionally mixed with pine; in lower places, with fresher soil, there is a greater admixture of various deciduous species; with even greater soil moisture, spruce is mixed with pine, often in very significant quantities, and in the northern forests other coniferous species. Finally, pine is also found in mossy swamps, where it, however, grows extremely slowly and at the age of a hundred is a small tree, with a stem only an inch thick. On more fertile soils, of which fresh sand and sandy loam are the best for pine, it grows very quickly, being one of the fastest growing conifers.

Pine, like a coniferous species, is renewed only by seeds, and therefore is suitable only for high-trunk farming; Most often in its plantations, felling rotations from 80 to 120 years are used, only occasionally lowering them to 60 or increasing them to 150 years.

Renewal occurs naturally or artificially. Cutting areas cut down in the seed year are not wide, up to 30 meters, usually well seeded, and their renewal is ensured if the emerging seedlings are not drowned out by grass; the danger of such choking is especially great on fresher soils, but can be mitigated by reducing the width of the cutting area and protecting it with a wall of old forest on the south side. If the year of felling does not coincide with the harvest of seeds, the cleared area is often overgrown with grass, after which the emergence of pine seedlings becomes difficult, even if, as is often done, seed trees were left in sufficient quantities at the cutting site. In typical pine forest areas, the thick grass cover does not last long: it soon thins out and, in the end, turns out to consist of low perennial grasses, which no longer pose an obstacle to the emergence of pine seedlings, if only its seeds can fly to a given area.

If sod-covered clearings are not protected from grazing, then the appearance of durable sods on them turns out to be impossible, and such areas easily turn into loose sand, the afforestation of which presents certain difficulties. On fresher soils, the herbaceous cover of clearings that have not been seeded in a timely manner lasts longer and usually gives way to various deciduous species, among which birch predominates. Under the shade of these deciduous trees, the colonization of pine becomes possible again, and it usually appears after a more or less significant period of time.

Large clearings in pine forests, in addition to damage from livestock grazing, often experience significant damage from the larvae of the cockchafer, which especially readily lays eggs in illuminated areas with sandy soil. The presence of this uninvited guest can also lead to the formation of quicksand. This enemy rarely appears in narrow shaded cutting areas. Gradual felling of pine plantations is practiced in some places, but is relatively rare. Selective farming in pine plantations cannot lead to good results, due to the significant love of light of this breed.

Therefore, they very often resort to renewing and propagating pine trees through planting, for which one-year or two-year-old seedlings are usually used: planting larger plants is inconvenient due to the fact that the pine tree in its youth develops a long taproot, which is difficult to remove without damage, and this leads to damage to the root The breed, like other conifers, is quite sensitive. Pine seedlings are usually planted “under a sword” (a crowbar with a sword-shaped tip weighing 5-7 kg), in the amount of 1 piece per 6 sq.m.

Pines in fine art

    Forest edge.
    I. A. Shishkin. Canvas, oil.

    Pine on the sand.
    I. A. Shishkin.
    1884.

    Morning in a pine forest.
    I. A. Shishkin.
    1886.
    Oil, canvas.
    State Tretyakov Gallery.

    After the storm in Mary Hovey.
    I. A. Shishkin.
    1891.
    Lviv Art Gallery.

    Hodogaya area, Tokaido tract.
    Katsushika Hokusai.
    OK. 1830.
    Colored wood engraving.

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