Description of pine varieties

The most common coniferous species is pine. It grows throughout the Northern Hemisphere, and one species even crosses the equator. Everyone knows what pine looks like; in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, trees are often decorated with it for the New Year. Meanwhile, the appearance of trees can vary greatly, as can the size or length of the needles.

But no matter what the plant looks like, all varieties of pine have found application in industry, medicine, and park architecture. It is one of the main forest-forming species, prevents soil erosion, and is able to grow where other deciduous or coniferous trees simply cannot survive.

Where does pine grow in Russia?

For 16 species of pine, the natural habitat is Russia. Another 73 are introduced, but grow mostly in cultivation, decorating parks, public and private gardens.

The largest area is occupied by Scots Pine, which forms pure and mixed forests in the north of the European part and most of Siberia. It reaches almost to the Pacific Ocean and is found in the Caucasus, in the northern part of Turkestan.

Cedar Pines are also common in Russia:

• Siberian grows throughout Western Siberia and part of Eastern Siberia, in Altai and the highlands of the Eastern Sayan;
• Korean - in the Amur region;
• The dwarf cedar is widespread in Eastern Siberia, Transbaikalia, the Amur region, Kamchatka and Kolyma.

Other species have limited ranges and are not as well known. Some of them are included in the Red Book, for example:

• Cretaceous, growing in the Ulyanovsk, Belgorod, Voronezh regions and the Republic of Chuvashia;
• Densely flowered or Red Japanese, which in Russia can only be found in the south of the Primorsky Territory.

We can safely say that different types of pine in Russia grow throughout the entire territory, and are one of the main forest-forming species.

Characteristics of pine

Pine (Pinus) is a genus of approximately 115 species. Botanists have not come to a consensus, and their number, according to various sources, ranges from 105 to 124. The culture is part of the Pine family of the same name (Pinaceae), order Pinales.

Pine is a coniferous or deciduous tree

The genus Pine includes evergreen coniferous trees and rarely shrubs. Biologists call needles modified leaves, although, from the point of view of an ordinary person, it would be correct to think the other way around. After all, gymnosperms (coniferous) trees are more ancient than angiosperms (deciduous).

The bark of pine trees is usually thick, peels off in scales of various sizes, but does not fall off. The root is powerful, the central one is a taproot, goes deep into the ground, the lateral shoots diverge to the sides and cover a significant area.

The branches may appear to be grouped in rings on the tree, but they actually form a spiral. Young shoots, often called “candles” due to their shape, are initially densely covered with whitish or brown scales and point upward. Then they turn green and straighten their needles.

The needles are usually green, sometimes with a bluish tint, collected in bunches of 2-5 pieces, and live for several years. Very rarely the needles are single, or grouped in groups of 6. For example:

• double-coniferous pines include Scots, Whitebark, Bosnian, Mountain, Black and Primorskaya pines;
• three-coniferous - Bunge, Yellow;
• among the five-conifers - all Cedar, Bristol, Armandi, Weymouth and Japanese (White).

The length of the needles also varies greatly. Of the species common in cultivation, the following pines have the shortest:

• Bristol (Aristata) – 2-4 cm;
• Banksa – 2-4 cm;
• Japanese (White) – 3-6 cm;
• Twisted – 2.5-7.5 cm.

The longest needles are found in pines belonging to the following species:

• Armandi – 8-15 cm;
• Himalayan (Wallihiana) – 15-20 cm;
• Jeffrey - 17-20 cm;
• Korean cedar – up to 20 cm;
• Yellow – up to 30 cm.

The crown of a tree can be narrow, pyramidal, conical, pin-shaped, similar to an umbrella or pillow. It all depends on the species.

The size of the pine crown depends most on the light.This is a very light-loving crop; if trees grow close to each other, the lower branches, deprived of light, die. Then the crown cannot be spreading and wide, even if this is typical for the species.

What is the height of the pine tree

Depending on the type, the height of the pine ranges from 3 to 80 m. The average size is considered to be 15-45 m. The shortest types of pine are Potosi and dwarf pine, not exceeding 5 m. Yellow, for which 60 m, can grow taller than others. the usual size of an adult tree, and some specimens reach 80 m or more.

How a pine tree blooms

Most species are monoecious, meaning male and female cones appear on the same tree. Only some species are subdual—predominantly (but not entirely) same-sex. In these varieties of pines, some specimens have a majority of male cones, and only some are female, while others have the opposite.

Flowering begins in spring. Small male cones, measuring 1 to 5 cm, release pollen and fall off. Females from fertilization to maturity, depending on the species, need from 1.5 to 3 years.

Mature cones have a length from 3 to 60 cm. The shape is cone-shaped, from almost round to narrow and long, often curved. Coloring is usually all shades of brown. Each cone consists of spirally arranged scales, sterile at the base and at the tip, much smaller in size than in the middle of the cone.

Small seeds, often winged, are carried by wind or birds. Typically, the cones open immediately after ripening, often remaining hanging on the tree for a long time. But this doesn't always happen.For example, in Whitebark Pine, the seeds are released only when the cone is broken by a bird.

How many years does he live?

Some sources call the average lifespan of pine trees 350 years, others indicate an interval from 100 to 1 thousand years. But these are very relative values. Ecology has a huge impact on life expectancy - culture reacts poorly to air pollution.

The longest-lived is considered to be the Bristlecone Pine, growing at an altitude of 3000 m in the White Mountains (California, USA), which will turn 4850 years old in 2019. She was even given a name - Methuselah, and was recognized as the most ancient living organism on Earth. Sometimes unconfirmed information appears in various sources about specimens that have reached 6,000 years old.

Photo of Methuselah pine tree

Types of pine trees with photos and descriptions

There are so many types of pine trees that it is impossible to present them all in one article. Therefore, the sample included only those that are most often used in landscaping and that are capable of growing in Russia.

White Pine (Japanese)

The natural habitat of Pinus parviflora is Japan, Korea and the Kuril Islands, where the tree grows at an altitude of 200-1800 m. It is naturalized on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, where pine was originally grown as an ornamental crop.

This species grows relatively slowly, an adult tree reaches a height of 10-18 m, sometimes 25 m, the trunk is up to 1 m thick. It forms a wide-conical irregular crown, flattened in older specimens.

The young bark is gray and smooth, with age it becomes dull gray, cracks, and the scales peel off.The needles, 3-6 cm long, are collected in bunches of 5 pieces, dark green above, bluish below. As you can see in the photo of the tree and white pine leaves, the needles are slightly twisted, looking like curls.

Male cones grow in groups of 20-30 pieces on the underside of the branches, are colored red-brown, reach 5-6 mm. Females, after ripening, have a length of 6-8 cm, a width of 3-3.5 cm. They grow in groups of 1 to 10 pieces at the ends of young shoots, have a cone-shaped shape, are gray-brown in color, and after opening they look like a flower.

White pine (Japanese) is intended for cultivation in frost resistance zone 5.

Weymouth Pine

Pinus strobus is the only five-needle pine found east of the Rocky Mountains. It is also called the Eastern White, and for the Iroquois tribe it is the tree of peace.

When it comes to Weymouth pine, the first thing that comes to mind is its long, soft, thin needles. In fact, their size does not exceed 10 cm. But due to their rare location, delicate texture, and the fact that the needles stay on the tree for only 18 months, therefore, they do not have time to harden much, they seem much larger. The color of the needles is bluish-green.

The height in natural conditions reaches 40-50 m, it is considered the tallest tree in North America. There is evidence that in the pre-colonial era there were specimens up to 70 m, but this is impossible to verify. It grows quickly; in its homeland, at the age of 15 to 45 years, it can add up to 1 m annually.

It is a slender tree, in its youth with a narrow pyramidal dense crown. With age, the branches tend to move into a horizontal plane, the shape becomes wide.The young bark is smooth, greenish-gray; on old trees it becomes covered with deep cracks, becomes gray-brown, and sometimes a purple tint appears on the plates.

Male cones are elliptical, numerous, yellow, 1-1.5 cm. Female cones are thin, on average 7.5-15 cm long, 2.5-5 cm wide. A good harvest occurs once every 3-5 years.

Weymouth pine is more resistant to urban conditions and fires than others, but is often affected by rust. This species is the most shade-tolerant. Lives up to 400 years. Fully frost hardy in zone 3.

Mountain Pine

In the mountains of Central and South-Eastern Europe, Pinus Mugo grows at an altitude of 1400-2500 m. In Eastern Germany and southern Poland it is found in peat bogs and frosty depressions at a level of 200 m.

Mountain pine is a rather variable species of coniferous multi-stemmed shrubs up to 3-5 m high, in rare cases - small trees, often with a curved trunk, reaching a maximum size of 10 m. It grows quite quickly, adding 15-30 cm per year to 10- In summer, the bush usually reaches 1 m in height with a width of 2 m.

This discrepancy between the annual growth and the size of the plant is caused by the fact that the shoots first lie on the ground and then rush upward. In older specimens, the crown diameter can be up to 10 m.

The bark, smooth in youth, is ash-brown, cracks with age and becomes gray-black or black-brown, darker at the top of the trunk than at the bottom. Dark green, thick, sharp needles, slightly twisted and curved, collected in bunches of 2, fall off after 2-5 years.

Male cones are yellow or red and gather dust in late spring or early summer. The females are egg-shaped, purple at first, mature in 15-17 months and become dark brown, 2-7 cm long.

Low varieties of mountain pine are always popular. Life span is 150-200 years, winters without shelter in zone 3.

Pine densely flowered (Mogilnaya)

The species Pinus densiflora is quite close to Scots pine. It grows at an altitude of 0-500 m above sea level in Japan, China and Korea, and is occasionally found in the south of the Ussuri region.

The species is unsuitable for planting in most of Russia, since the trees are very thermophilic and can only winter in zone 7. But numerous and very decorative varieties have shown great resistance to low temperatures. Some of the cultivars are intended for zone 4. They will feel great in the Moscow region or Leningrad region, not to mention the more southern regions.

It grows like a tree with a curved trunk up to 30 m high, and a spreading irregular crown, the shape of which is often called a “cloud”. This describes its outlines perfectly.

Young branches are gray-green, then become reddish-brown. The lower ones quickly fall off, even if the tree grows in an open place and does not lack sunlight.

The needles are gray or green, collected in 2 pieces, 7-12 cm long. Male cones are pale yellow or yellow-brown, female cones are golden brown, 3-5 cm long (sometimes 7 cm), collected in whorls of 2- 5 pieces.

Siberian Cedar Pine

Pinus sibirica, which has edible seeds and is better known as the Siberian Cedar, is common in Russia. It grows in the Urals and Siberia with the exception of most of Yakutia, China, Kazakhstan and Northern Mongolia. Trees rise to a height of up to 2 thousand m, and in the southern regions they have crossed the 2400 m mark.

Unlike other species, Siberian cedar thrives in wet, swampy and heavy clay soils.Lives up to 500 years; according to some sources, there are individual trees that have reached 800 years. Withstands cold winters in zone 3 very well.

Siberian cedar is a tree about 35 m high, the diameter of its trunk reaches 180 cm. A young pine has a conical crown, with age it spreads out to the sides, becoming wide and convex.

The bark of Siberian cedar is gray-brown, the branches are thick, yellow-brown, and the leaf buds are reddish. The needles are triangular in cross-section, dark green, hard, curved, 6-11 cm long, collected in 5 pieces.

Male cones are red, female cones are cone-oval, directed upward, and lengthen after ripening. Their length is 5-8 cm, width - 3-5.5 cm. The seeds of Siberian cedar are ovoid, slightly ribbed, yellow-brown, wingless, up to 6 mm long. They ripen 17-18 months after pollination.

The seeds of Siberian cedar are usually called pine nuts; they have great nutritional value. When removed from the shell, they are the size of your little fingernail.

Pine Korean Cedar

Another species that has edible seeds, Pinus koraiensis grows in northeast Korea, the Japanese islands of Honshu and Shikoku, and the Chinese province of Heilongjiang. In Russia, Korean Cedar, as the species is commonly called, is common on the Amur coast. The culture grows at an altitude of 1300-2500 m, lives up to 600 years, and is quite frost-resistant in zone 3.

It is a tree about 40 m high with a trunk diameter of up to 150 cm, with grey-brown smooth bark, which on older specimens turns black and becomes scaly. Strong, outstretched, with raised ends, tree branches form a wide conical crown, often with several peaks. The needles are sparse, hard, grayish-green, up to 20 cm long, collected in bunches of 5 pieces.

Male cones are located on the tree in large groups at the base of young shoots. Females are first greyish-yellow, but after ripening after 18 months they turn brown. The length of the fruiting cones is 8-17 cm, the shape is ovoid, elongated, with bent seed scales. After ripening they quickly fall from the tree.

Each cone contains up to 140 large seeds up to 1.5 cm long and 1 cm wide. Harvest years occur once every 8-10 years. At this time, up to 500 cones are collected from each tree.

Scots Pine

Among coniferous species, Pinus Sylvestris is second only to Common Juniper in prevalence. This is a light-loving plant that can withstand frost and drought, preferring to grow on sandy, poor soils. Scots pine is one of the main species forming forests in Europe and Northern Asia. The species has been successfully naturalized in Canada.

Under natural conditions, it forms pure stands or mixed forests, where it grows next to birch, spruce, oak, and aspen.

If the tree was not infected at an early age by the silkworm, it forms an even, slender trunk, topped with an umbrella crown at the top. The lower old branches usually die off as soon as they are shaded by the young ones.

The red-brown bark is rough, the old bark cracks and peels off in plates that differ in shape and size, but does not fall off. Grayish-green needles 4-7 cm long are collected in 2 pieces.

Scots pine is considered one of the fastest growing. Every year she increases her size by 30 cm or more. It has several geographical varieties that winter in zones 1-4, growing at altitudes from 0 to 2600 m.

At 10 years old, Scots Pine reaches four meters.An adult tree has a height of 25-40 m, but individual specimens, growing mostly on the Baltic coast, when measured show 46 m. ​​The trunk diameter is from 50 to 120 cm.

The cones have the shape of an elongated oval with a pointed tip and mature in 20 months. Most often they grow solitarily and are up to 7.5 cm long. The tree begins to bear fruit after 15 years.

There are many varieties of Scots pine, including slow-growing dwarf varieties.

Rumelian pine

Balkan, Macedonian or Rumelian Pine (Pinus peuce) is common on the Balkan Peninsula, naturalized in Finland. Grows at an altitude of 600-2200 m.

The height of an adult tree is about 20 m, in the population living in Bulgaria the size is much larger - up to 35 m, and some specimens reach 40 m. The trunk diameter is 50-150 cm.

Rumelian Pine grows quickly, 30 cm per year. The branches start almost at ground level or slightly higher and form a pyramidal crown with more or less regular outlines. At an altitude of more than 1800 m, you can find multi-stemmed trees that appeared from fully germinated seeds of a cone lost by rodents.

On an adult tree, the lower branches are located parallel to the ground, the upper ones are raised up. In the middle of the crown, the shoots first go horizontally, then move into a vertical plane. The higher a tree grows in the mountains, the narrower its contours.

Young needles are green, becoming silvery with age. The needles are collected in bunches of 5, 7-10 cm long. There are a lot of cones, they ripen a year and a half after pollination. Young ones are very beautiful, narrow, long, 9-18 cm.

Thunberg Pine

This species is called Japanese Black Pine; its cultivated low-growing forms are most often used to create garden bonsai.Pinus thunbergii is thermophilic and overwinters in zone 6 without shelter, but there are varieties that are more resistant to low temperatures.

The natural habitat for Thunberg pine is the Japanese islands of Shikoku, Honshu, Kyushu and South Korea, where winter temperatures rarely drop below zero. There, trees grow on poor, marshy soils, dry mountain slopes and ridges, climbing to heights of up to 1000 m above sea level.

Japanese black pine reaches a height of about 30 m with a trunk diameter of 1-2 m. The bark is dark gray or reddish-gray, scaly, with longitudinal cracks. The crown is dense, irregularly dome-shaped, often flattened.

The light brown branches are thick, large, often curved, located on the tree in a horizontal plane. The dark green needles are sharp, collected in 2 pieces, 7 to 12 cm long, last 3-4 years.

Male cones are yellow-brown, 1-1.3 cm. Female cones are held on a short stalk, have the shape of a rounded cone, length 4-7 cm, thickness 3.5-6.5 cm. They ripen and open at the end of winter.

Black Pine

This pine is called Austrian; its habitat is located in the mountain ranges of Central and Southern Europe at an altitude of 200 to 2000 m. Pinus Nigra has several varieties. They differ in the geographical location of their natural habitat and the height at which the trees grow. The species has been naturalized in the USA and Canada. Overwinters in zone 5, some varieties are more resistant to low temperatures than the species. Black pine lives on average 350 years.

An adult tree reaches a height of 25-45 m, the trunk diameter is 1-1.8 m. When young, it grows slowly and forms a pyramidal crown, which over time spreads to the sides, becomes wide, and in old age - umbrella-shaped.

The bark is thick, gray-brown, and may take on a pinkish tint on very old trees. The branches are smooth, strong, with dense needles. The needles are often curved, dark green, 8-14 cm long, and live on the tree for 4-7 years.

Yellow male cones are 1-1.5 cm long. Female cones are conical, symmetrical, green when young, grayish-yellow after ripening after 20 months. Their size ranges from 5-10 cm. After the seeds ripen, the cones may fall off or hang on the tree for 1-2 years.

Pine varieties

There are many types of pine, and even more varieties. It is impossible to give preference to one and ignore the other; everyone has different tastes, the size and design of plots, and climatic zones differ. The appearance of pine trees also varies, so much so that a person who is far from nature and has never been interested in plants will not always identify related crops in them.

Nevertheless, it is necessary to give a general idea of ​​the varieties. Which one is better, most likely, connoisseurs and connoisseurs will have their own ideas, but they will also be interested in viewing the selection.

Low-growing pine varieties

Almost every type of pine tree for the dacha can have low-growing varieties. They are very popular as they can grow in areas of any size and are often used for planting in front areas, rock gardens and spectacular flower beds.

Dense-flowered pine Lov Glov

The name of the variety, obtained from a witch's broom in 1985 by Sidney Waxman, an employee of the University of Connecticut, is translated as Faint Glow. Some botanists believe that this is a hybrid of the Gustotsvetkova and Thunberg pines, but they classify it as the first species.

Pinus densiflora Low Glow is a slow-growing dwarf variety that produces an annual growth of 2.5-5 cm. At 10 years, the tree measures 40 cm in height with a diameter of 80 cm.

Pine of the Lov Glov variety forms a rounded crown, flattened at the top, the color of which is subject to seasonal fluctuations. In spring and summer, the needles are light green; with the onset of cold weather, they acquire a yellowish tint.

The tree grows without shelter in the fifth frost resistance zone.

Mountain Pine Mr. Wood

A rare, original cultivar of mountain pine, which is extremely difficult to propagate and bring to planting in open ground. The seedling that gave rise to the Pinus mugo Mr Wood variety was found by Edsal Wood and given to the owner of the Buchholz and Buchholz nursery, Gaston Oregon, in the late 90s of the last century.

This pine grows extremely slowly, adding 2.5 cm annually. It forms a spherical irregular crown, the diameter of which by the age of 10 is 30 cm. The needles are prickly, short, blue-blue.

Without shelter, the variety overwinters in zone 2.

Black Pine Hornibrookiana

The dwarf variety Pinus nigra Hornibrookiana is obtained from the witch's broom. At a young age, the crown is flattened, over time it acquires an irregular rounded shape, similar to a mound.

Old branches are located horizontally, young shoots are dense and grow upward. The green needles are hard, shiny, 5-8 cm long, collected in 2 pieces. Cream-colored “candles” add decorativeness to the variety.

This pine grows slowly, by the age of 10 it reaches a height of 60-80 cm with a width of 90-100 cm. The variety is undemanding to soil and grows in a fully illuminated place. Winter hardiness - zone 4.

White Pine Japanese Adcox Dwarf

In Russian, the name of the variety Pinus parviflora Adcock’s Dwarf is translated as Adcock’s Dwarf (Gnome). The seedling was discovered in the English nursery Hillers in the 60s of the 20th century.

This pine is a dwarf conifer with a squat, irregular crown.At a young age, it is round and flattened, then it stretches out somewhat, and the shape begins to resemble a pyramidal one.

The variety grows very slowly, but after 25 years the tree reaches 1-1.3 m in height and width. The needles are small, blue-green.

This pine tree tolerates pruning well. If you start it at a young age, you can form a garden bonsai. The variety overwinters in the fifth zone without shelter.

Weymouth Pine Amelia Dwarf

The original, very beautiful variety Pinus strobus Amelia’s Dwarf, whose name translates as Amelia’s Dwarf, was bred by the Raraflora nursery (Pennsylvania, USA) in 1979 from a witch’s broom.

Pine grows slowly, adding 7.5-10 cm annually. Its spherical dense crown reaches a diameter of 1 m by the age of 10. The needles are fluffy, beautiful, blue-green in color. The pine tree looks especially beautiful in the spring, when it produces a lot of light green candles.

Without shelter, the variety overwinters in zone 3.

Fast-growing pine varieties

In large areas, it is especially pleasing for the owners when the space that seemed empty yesterday is filled with beautiful flowers, shrubs and trees. It is rare that a coniferous crop can compete with pine in growth speed, and its high decorativeness and unpretentiousness make it even more attractive.

Korean Cedar Pine Dragon's Eye

The origin of the spectacular fast-growing variety Pinus koraiensis Oculus Draconis is unknown. It was first described in 1959.

This cedar pine grows very quickly, adding more than 30 cm annually. At 10 years of age, the tree reaches a height of 3 m with a width of 1.5 m.

Forms a vertical conical crown. What adds special charm to the variety is its long, up to 20 cm, blue-green needles, which grow with a slight bend, which is clearly visible in the photo.The visual impression is created that the pine shoots are drooping, although in reality this is not the case.

The variety got its name thanks to the yellow stripes that can appear in the middle of the needles. At the base of the tips of the young shoots they fold into a golden multi-rayed star, truly resembling the eye of a strange reptile. But the yellow color does not always appear, and during propagation, when strict rejection of seedlings that do not correspond to the variety is not carried out, it has become a rarity.

Pine overwinters without shelter in zone 5.

Weymouth Pine Torulosa

The origins of Pinus strobus Torulosa are unclear, but were first listed in the 1978 Hillier Nursery catalogue. The cultivar is believed to have originated in Europe.

Weymouth pine Torulosa grows very quickly, adding 30-45 cm annually. A young plant has a crown of an incomprehensible shape, with age it becomes wide, from oval to vertical, similar to a species tree. At 10 years old, the height of the pine tree reaches 4-5 m.

The variety is distinguished by slightly curved branches and strongly curved blue-green needles. The needles are soft, long (up to 15 cm), very beautiful.

The Weymouth pine tree of the Torulosa variety is completely frost-hardy in zone 3.

Scots Pine Hillside Creeper

A very interesting variety produced by the famous American nursery Hillside, created in 1970. The seedling was selected by Lane Ziegenfuss.

The variety is completely different from the species Scots Pine, as it is a creeping plant. Weak, loose branches are strictly in the horizontal plane, only individual shoots rise slightly upward. With a growth rate of 20-30 cm per season, over time they cover a large area.By the age of 10, the height of the pine tree is only 30 cm, but the diameter of the crown “masters” an area with a diameter of 2 to 3 m.

Dense grayish-green needles are prone to seasonal color changes. With the onset of cold weather, it acquires a yellowish tint.

Hillside Creeper Pine is frost-hardy and does not require winter shelter in zone 3.

Thunberg Aocha Pine

The original variety Pinus thunbergii Aocha was first mentioned in 1985, but its origin is unknown.

The tree grows quickly, adding more than 30 cm per year and by 10 years stretching up to 4 m. This pine forms a wide vertical crown, the shape of which approaches an oval. Among others, the variety is distinguished by the color of its needles - most of the branches are green, some are yellow, and some are covered with needles of different colors.

In order for pine to fully display its decorative qualities, it must be well lit. The tree overwinters unprotected in zone 5.

Scots Pine Nisbet's Gold

The variety originated from a seedling selected from the Trompenburg Arboretum in the Netherlands in 1986. It was originally named Nisbet Aurea, but later officially renamed Pinus sylvestris Nisbet's Gold. Sold under both names.

This is a resistant variety of Scots Pine, which, when propagated, produces few seedlings that do not match the maternal characteristics. It grows very quickly - about 60 cm per year, at a young age somewhat slower, and after 10 years it reaches 3-5 m.

At a very young age, the tree looks like a small Christmas tree. Then it gradually acquires a wide oval or vertical crown shape, as it grows it loses its lower branches, becoming more and more like a species pine.

It stands out for its short green needles, which in winter change color to golden, which becomes more intense as the temperature drops.The tree overwinters without shelter in zone 3.

Pine varieties for the Moscow region

The Moscow region is in frost resistance zone 4. This means that most of the best varieties of pine can be planted there. Of course, it cannot be said that for Muscovites the choice is unlimited, but even heat-loving species have cultivars that are more resistant to cold than the parent breed.

Weymouth Pine Verkurve

From seeds obtained by cross-pollination of the Weymouth pines Horsham and Torulosa, three new varieties were bred in the mid-2000s by Vergon Greg Williams. In addition to Pinus strobus Vercurve, Mini Twists and Tiny Kurls owe their appearance to this crop.

Verkurve is a dwarf variety of Weymouth pine with a wide pyramidal crown. The annual growth is 10-15 cm, and the height of the tree at 10 years is 1.5 m with a width of 1 m.

The variety is interesting because of its blue-green needles, long, soft, as if specially curled and disheveled. They are clearly visible in the photo below.

A Verkurve pine tree without shelter can overwinter in zone 3.

Scots Pine Gold Con

Of the pine varieties available today that change the color of their needles to golden in winter, Pinus sylvestris Gold Coin is rightfully considered one of the best. Its origin and introduction into culture is attributed to RS Corley (Great Britain). The name of the pine tree is translated into Russian as Golden Coin.

The tree grows quite quickly, increasing annually by 20-30 cm. An adult plant reaches a height of 5.5 m and a width of 2.5 m. But after that it continues to grow. The size of a pine tree can be limited by trimmings, which also make the already dense branches denser.

The tree forms a conical crown, which expands with age. Differs in the color of the needles.In spring and summer it is pale green, in winter it turns golden, and becomes brighter as the temperature drops.

The tree overwinters in zone 3.

Black Pine Frank

The Pinus nigra Frank variety appeared in the mid-80s of the 20th century, represented by the Mitch nursery (Aurora, Oregon).

The tree is distinguished by a vertical, rather narrow crown for a pine, formed by straight branches raised up, tightly adjacent to one another. Neat “candles” and white buds add decorativeness to the pine tree.

The needles are shorter than those of the original species, rich green in color, and very prickly. The variety grows quite slowly, about 15 cm per year. To maintain the shape and control the size of the tree, it is recommended to do light pruning every spring.

Frank pine overwinters in zone 4. In late autumn, it is recommended to tie the crown of the tree with twine.

Mountain Pine Carstens

The variety Pinus mugo Carstens was introduced into cultivation by the German nursery Hachmann in 1988. It arose from a seedling selected several years earlier by Erwin Carstens.

It is a dwarf pine variety. In its youth, the tree forms a cushion-shaped crown, which with age becomes like a flattened ball. The annual growth is 3.5-5 cm. A ten-year-old pine has a height of 30 cm with a crown diameter of 45-60 cm.

In summer, the needles are the same as on the species plant, green or dark green; in winter they acquire a rich golden color. Another “highlight” of the variety is the appearance of short bristly needles at the ends of the branches at the end of the growing season.

Mountain pine Karstes has high winter hardiness; it does not need to be covered in zone 4.

Rumelian Pine Pacific Blue

A relatively new variety, which arose from a seedling selected at the beginning of the century by the Iseli nursery (Oregon).Pinus peuce Pacific Blue is a true blue pine, and this color is rare for the crop, unlike blue.

The tree forms a wide vertical crown consisting of dense raised branches topped with long, thin, brightly colored needles. This Rumelian pine grows very quickly, adding more than 30 cm every year, and by the age of 10, under favorable conditions, it can stretch up to 6 m. Moreover, the width will not differ too much from the height - 5 m.

The Pacific Blue variety stands out not only for its exceptional decorative qualities, but also for its frost resistance, which is rare for the heat-loving Rumelian pine. A tree without shelter overwinters in zone 4.

Pine in landscape design

The use of pine trees in landscape design depends on their size and growth rate. Of course, the rate of tree development can be slowed down, and significantly, by skillful pruning, but not indefinitely. If a pine tree gained 50 cm per year without pruning, but began to stretch “only” 30 cm, this is still a lot.

The widespread use of the crop is also hampered by low resistance to air pollution. If the description of a variety states that it tolerates urban conditions well, then this is only in comparison with other representatives of the Pine family. All genera and species included in the taxon react poorly to anthropogenic pollution.

Tall varieties and species of trees are planted in parks, on large areas and on the periphery of small ones. It is not recommended to use them as a barrier between the outside world and a private territory - a hedge of bald, diseased trees looks pathetic. Unless the owners want privacy from their neighbors, and not protection from the noise and dust of the road passing nearby.

There is a place for a dwarf pine tree in any area.Low-growing varieties are planted in the front area, rocky gardens, and flower beds to give greater effect.

Medium-sized pines are quite suitable for landscape groups and are used as a single focal plant. Flower beds look great against their background.

Whatever the size of the pine tree, it will decorate any area, and make the winter landscape less monotonous and boring.

Medicinal properties of pine

Large quantities of useful substances, the listing of which would require a separate article, are contained in pine trees:

• kidneys;
• pollen;
• needles;
• young shoots;
• green cones;
• bark

Resins, obtained mainly from wood, namely stumps, since the trunks are valuable lumber, contain a large amount of essential oils and are used to obtain turpentine. In medicine, only purified oleoresin is used.

Made from pine and tar. It is widely used not only in traditional medicine, but also in official medicine.

It is difficult to say which diseases pine cannot help alleviate. But that's not all. Staying in a pine forest in itself has a beneficial effect on human physiology and psyche. For many diseases, walks in arboretums and pine forests are recommended.

Meaning and Application

Pine has two main uses in the national economy. On the one hand, this is one of the main forest-forming species. Pine grows where other trees cannot survive; it is used to prevent soil erosion; it is planted on sand and rocks.

On the other hand, it is the most valuable lumber. Only European Pine in Russia supplies more than a third of the wood used. It is used for export, construction, production of paper, pencils, fasteners, barrels.Pine is indispensable in shipbuilding, chemical and cosmetic industries.

The tree is used almost completely - from the top to the stumps. Turpentine, tar and essential oils are obtained from pine; even needles are used for vitamin supplements for animal feed. Tree bark is treated with fungicides and insecticides, divided into fractions by size, and used in landscape design as mulch.

Some pines, including pine and pine, have edible seeds, which are commonly called nuts. They have high nutritional value and contain a lot of useful substances.

Features of pine care

In general, pine is an undemanding tree to care for. But only if you place it in the “right” place, and don’t rely on chance, planting a variety in a frost-hardiness zone unsuitable for its cultivation.

All pines are very sun-loving, prefer moderately fertile, drained soils, and respond well to stones and a large amount of sand in the substrate. This is a drought-resistant tree. Only one species requires regular watering - the Rumelian Pine.

The tree tolerates pruning well, especially at a young age. If the “candle” is damaged, for example, cut by a gardener or eaten by an animal, new buds appear below the wound surface, from which new shoots grow. This is often used when shaping pine. If you cut the “candle” by 1/3, this will only slow down the growth of the tree somewhat; removing 1/2 will make the crown compact and dense. When creating garden bonsai, 2/3 of the young shoot is plucked out.

Mature pine trees are always more winter-hardy than young ones.

Plants up to 5 years can be replanted without consequences.Large trees are moved after preliminary preparation of the root system, or with a frozen lump of earth.

When planting a pine tree, the root collar should not be buried.

Reproduction

Pine cuttings usually end in failure. Even nurseries rarely practice this method.

Varieties obtained from witch's broom, weeping forms, as well as especially valuable and rare ones are propagated by grafting. This procedure is beyond the capabilities of most amateurs.

Amateur gardeners can try to propagate the crop with seeds, which are sown after stratification. In pine, germination rates approaching 50% are considered excellent. But waiting for the seedlings is only half the battle. You need to carefully care for them for another 4-5 years before planting them in the ground.

In addition, not all cultivars inherit varietal characteristics when seeds are sown, because most of them appeared as a result of mutation. Some will grow into species trees, and of low quality. Others often “sport”, mutate further, or, conversely, reverse. In biology there is even such a concept - a resistant variety. This means that the offspring are likely to be similar to the parent culture.

What amateurs are definitely not able to do is cull for varietal inconsistency. Firstly, small pines do not look like a mature tree, and it is simply difficult for a non-specialist to understand. And secondly, it’s a shame to throw away a plant!

Diseases and pests

Pines have their own specific pests and diseases that are common to other crops. In order for the tree to be healthy and not lose its decorative appearance, preventive treatments must be carried out regularly. Insecticides will help to defeat pests, and fungicides will help to cope with diseases.

The following insects cause significant damage to pine trees:

• hermes pine;
• pine aphid;
• common pine scale;
• pine moth;
• pine cutworm;
• pine silkworm;
• pine shoot.

Among the pine diseases are:

• tar cancer or blister rust;
• Schutte;
• red spotting of needles;
• dotistromosis;
• scleroderiosis.

Conclusion

Pine looks attractive, does not require special care, most species are undemanding to soil and watering. There are dwarf and fast-growing varieties, differing in crown shape, length and color of needles. This makes the culture attractive in landscape design and park landscaping. The only thing holding back the spread of the culture is low resistance to anthropogenic pollution.

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