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Scots pine is the second most common coniferous crop in the world, second only to Scots juniper. It is often called European, but special publications emphasize that this is incorrect. The range of Scots Pine is extensive, covering Eurasia from the Arctic almost to the tropics.
Description of Scots pine
Scots Pine (Pinus Sylvestris) is a single-stemmed coniferous tree belonging to the genus Pine (Pinus) of the Pine family (Pinaceae).It is of great importance as a forest-forming species; it is planted where it is necessary to stop soil erosion. This is a valuable ornamental crop, variable and easy to select.
The first detailed description was given by Carl Linnaeus in 1753.
What does Scots pine look like?
The appearance of Scots pine changes with age. In youth, its crown is cone-shaped to broadly oval, then it becomes umbrella-like. The crop grows very quickly, adding 30 cm or more per year. By the age of 10 years, the height of Scots pine is about 4 m.
Mature trees typically reach 25-40 m. The size of Scots pine depends on the region. For example, the tallest specimens, exceeding 46 m, are most often found on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea.
The trunk of Scots pine reaches 50-120 cm in girth. Under ideal conditions it is straight, but curved specimens are often found in nature. This is due to the defeat of the crop by the bud shoot (Evetria turionana), which in Scots pine plants causes deformation of the main conductor, making it knotty.
The bark on young shoots is orange, flaky, and becomes reddish-rusty with age. The trunk is gray-brown, covered with deep cracks. On the main conductor, the bark forms thick plates of different sizes and shapes. It is this, processed and sorted into fractions, that is sold in garden centers as mulch.
Young shoots are green, but by the end of the season they become gray, and in the second spring they acquire a brown tint. At first the branches are arranged rhythmically, whorled, in mature pines they are uneven.
The crown crowns the top of the tree; sometimes at the bottom of an adult specimen there remains a single branch far removed from the trunk.This is due to the fact that old shoots begin to die as soon as they are overlapped by young shoots and are deprived of access to light.
The needles are grayish-green, but can range in color from dark green to grayish-blue, and sometimes change color to yellowish-green in winter. The hard needles are slightly curved, collected in 2 pieces, reaching a length of 4-7 cm and a width of 2 mm. They have a jagged edge and clearly visible stomatal lines. The needles live for 2-4 years. In subarctic regions it can last up to 9 years.
It is noteworthy that on young, vigorously growing specimens, the needles can be almost 2 times longer, and occasionally grouped in groups of 3-4 pieces. Seedlings have single needles up to a year old.
All species included in the genus Pine are monoecious. That is, male and female flowers open on the same plant. The Scots pine cycle is 20 months, which is how long it takes between pollination in April-May and cone ripening in winter.
They grow solitary, rarely collected in 2-3 pieces, have a grayish-brown color and a matte surface. The shape of Scots pine cones is elongated-ovoid with a pointed tip, length - up to 7.5 cm. They ripen in late autumn or early winter, open next spring, drop small (4-5 mm) black seeds, and soon fall off.
The root of the culture is pivotal, powerful, and goes deep into the ground. Species trees live 150-350 years, but 700-year-old specimens have been registered in Sweden and Norway.
Signs of the Scots pine species
If we summarize the characteristics of Scots Pine as a species, the following characteristics should be highlighted:
- The culture is a light-loving plant, resistant to frost and drought, forming a powerful vertical root.It goes deep into the ground and makes Scots Pine one of the main forest-forming species in Europe and Northern Asia, right up to the Amur region.
- The species trees have a straight, high trunk, which is bent due to damage by a specific pest - the silkworm.
- The crown of Scots Pine most often has an uneven umbrella shape and is located at the top of the main shoot. The rest of the trunk remains bare as the lower branches die off as the tree grows.
- The old bark peels off in thick plates of different shapes and sizes.
- The needles are collected in 2 pieces, grayish-green.
- The culture is considered frost-resistant; depending on the variety, which will be discussed below, it overwinters in zones 1-4.
- Trees of this species are among the fastest growing, adding 30 cm or more annually under favorable conditions.
Where does Scots pine grow?
Quite often Scots Pine is called European. But it grows over a vast territory, spread between Eastern Siberia, Portugal, the Caucasus and the Arctic Circle, Mongolia, and Turkey. The Scots Pine is naturalized in Canada, where it thrives.
In nature, the culture forms pure pine forests, but can grow together with oak, birch, aspen, and spruce. Depending on the subspecies and form, Scots Pine grows from 0 to 2600 m above sea level.
Types of Scots pine
Since the Scots Pine's range is vast, within the species there are about 100 subspecies, forms, and ecotypes characteristic of a particular area (not to be confused with varieties). But they are of interest only to biologists. In appearance, the Scots Pine variations are not too different from each other. The difference is revealed only by genetic analysis or studying the composition of the resin.This is unlikely to be of interest to amateur gardeners.
Three broad variations are used in culture:
- Pinus Sylvestris var. Hamata or Hamata. The most thermophilic, winters in zone 6, grows in the Balkans, Caucasus, Crimea, Turkey. It climbs to a height of up to 2600 m. It differs from other varieties in the chemical composition of the resin. The needles do not fade in winter; they are rather green with a bluish rather than gray tint.
- Pinus Sylvestris var. Mongolica or Mongolica. It grows in Siberia, Transbaikalia, Mongolia and the northwestern regions of China at an altitude of up to 2 thousand m. It is distinguished by dull long (up to 12 cm) needles, which tend to turn yellowish by winter.
- Pinus Sylvestris var. Lapponica or Lapponica. It is from this subspecies that most European varieties are obtained. The main part of the range is in Europe and extends to Central Siberia. It is distinguished by short, stiff needles.
Many varieties have been obtained from Scots Pine. They can vary greatly in appearance. There are columnar, bush and dwarf varieties, the needles are silver-gray, bluish-green, milky-yellowish, yellow.
Some of them are quite unusual and very different from the species tree. These are the varieties included in the selection.
Scots pine fastigata
Pinus sylvestris Fastigiata in culture since 1856. Columnar-shaped trees were discovered in Finland, Norway and France, and brought to the level of variety through selection. This Scots pine is distinguished by a smooth, straight crown with upward-pointing branches pressed against each other.
It grows quickly, increasing by about 30 cm per season. By the age of 10 it reaches 4 m. An adult pine tree is characterized by a height of 15 m or more.
The needles are bluish-green, the cones are smaller than those of the original species. Frost resistance zone – 3.Prefers a sunny planting location.
Scots pine Fastigata requires careful care. With age, it can expose the trunk and branches and become unkempt. Its crown must be “corrected”, preventative treatments against pests and diseases must be carried out so that the needles do not fall off ahead of time.
Scots pine Globosa Virdis
Pinus sylvestris Globosa Viridis - a common variety, known since 1900. Dwarf form with short, dense, tough branches hanging to the ground. Gives an annual increase of 2.5 to 15 cm. At 10 years of age, the height is no more than 1-1.5 m, and can be significantly lower. The size depends on the growing conditions as well as the nursery. Scots pine is a variable species, and if growers do their own selection, this will affect the height of the tree.
At a young age, Scots pine Globosa Virdis forms an almost round, often asymmetrical crown. With age it becomes pyramidal.
Dark green hard needles about 10 cm, can be rounded to half the length. In winter it takes on a yellowish tint. At the end of summer, young short needles often appear, covering the cones.
Prefers a sunny position, undemanding to soil. Winters in zone 5.
Scots pine Watereri
Pinus sylvestris Watereri - a dwarf variety that grows slowly and annually adds about 5-10 cm or a little more. Found in 1965 by Anthony Waterer at Knap Hill Nursery.
By the age of 10 it reaches 1-1.2 m. The height of an adult tree, according to some sources, is up to 7.5 m, according to others – 4-5 m. In any case, these are modest sizes for Scots pine.
In youth, the crown is broadly conical, then becomes rounded due to outward-pointing branches and raised shoot ends.
The bluish-gray, thin twisted needles are short - no more than 4 cm. The variety lives for a long time, the first specimen, left for collecting seeds and growing seedlings of Scots pine Watereri, can still be seen in the Knap Hill nursery. Winters in the fourth zone.
Scots pine Hillside Creeper
Pinus sylvestris Hillside Creeper – a variety obtained from the dwarf form. Discovered in 1970 by Lane Ziegenfuss at Hillside Nursery, Pennsylvania.
A fast-growing variety that adds 20-30 cm per season. But, due to the nature of the spread of shoots, it grows in width, not height. By the age of 10, Scots pine rises 30 cm above the ground surface with a crown diameter of 2-3 m. An adult plant covers a much larger area.
The branches are loose and weak, fragile. The needles are thick, gray-green, and in cold climates or at sub-zero temperatures in the south they acquire a yellowish tint. Overwinters in zone 3; with light cover or sufficient snow cover, it thrives in zone 2.
Scots pine Aurea
Pinus sylvestris Aurea – an old variety, in cultivation since 1876. It is a squat shrub with a rounded crown. It can independently or with the help of its owners acquire the shape of a vertical oval or a regular cone.
Before planting Scots pine Aurea at your dacha, you should remember that it grows quickly, adding about 30 cm per season, and by the age of 10 it will stretch 2.5-4 m.This difference is due to the different conditions in which the tree lives, as well as the nursery. They strive to reproduce the slowest growing specimens, thereby participating in selection. And Scots pine is extremely variable and lends itself well to selection.
The main advantage of the Aurea variety is the color of the needles. The young are yellow-green in color and turn golden yellow in winter.
Scots pine Aurea grows well only in full sun. If there is a lack of light, the color will fade, but this can somehow be survived. But if the needles start to fall off, it will take several seasons to restore the decorative appearance, and the tree will have to be replanted.
The common Aurea pine overwinters without shelter in zone 3.
Conditions for growing Scots pine
Planting and caring for Scots pine is not difficult, but it is not resistant to air pollution. Amateur gardeners cannot influence this factor, but they want to get the crop for the plot. This means that you need to pay more attention to the other requirements of Scots pine.
She prefers a sunny, open place; even in her youth she cannot tolerate light shading. It develops best on sandy soils that are not prone to soaking and compaction, and withstands wind well.
What not a single variety of common pine, or even species trees, will tolerate is close standing groundwater. A large drainage layer during planting may not be enough. In such areas, pine is planted on the terrace, an embankment is built, or water drainage measures are taken. Otherwise, you will have to abandon the culture - its root is a taproot, it goes deep.
Planting Scots pine
In spring, Scots pine is planted in the northern regions. Then the crop has time to take root well before the onset of cold weather and is able to survive the winter.
In autumn, Scots pine is planted in warm and hot climates. In our country, heat often comes suddenly, when the culture has not even begun to take root. A seedling can easily die just because of high temperature.
Container plants are planted throughout the season. But in the south in the summer it is better not to carry out the operation.
Preparation of planting material
Pine trees should be purchased in containers or with a burlap-lined earthen lump. In any case, the root system must be closed.
You can bring Scots pine from the nearest forest. If the tree was dug up without a clod of earth and was not tied with a damp cloth in place, the root is immediately soaked in a stimulant, for example, rhizome or heteroauxin. It should remain there for at least 3 hours, until landing.
It is believed that after digging up a Scots pine with bare roots in the forest, it should be planted within 15 minutes. Of course, this is impossible, but it’s worth hurrying. A delay of even 1-2 hours will be fatal for the plant.
Specimens grown in containers are watered the day before planting.
Preparing the landing site
The pit for Scots pine must be prepared no later than 2 weeks before planting. The closer the groundwater comes to the surface, the thicker the drainage layer should be. In any case, they don’t make it smaller than 20 cm.
The depth of the planting hole for standard seedlings (not large ones) should be approximately 70 cm, the diameter should be the width of the container or earthen ball, multiplied by 1.5-2. It is possible to make a larger recess, but less is undesirable.
It is necessary to completely change the soil only in saline areas. The mixture is made up of turf soil, sand, and clay. If necessary, add 200-300 g of lime to the planting hole. Starter fertilizer is usually not applied to pine trees.
First, drainage is poured into the bottom of the hole, then the substrate, not reaching the edge by about 15 cm. The free volume is filled with water until it stops being absorbed.
Landing rules
Scots pine is planted no earlier than 2 weeks after preparing the hole. It is done in the following sequence:
- Part of the soil is removed from the hole with a shovel and set aside.
- If necessary, drive in a strong peg to tie up the pine tree. When planting tall trees, this is mandatory, and they use 3 supports driven in a triangle.
- A seedling is placed in the center.
- Check the position of the root collar - it should be flush with the ground surface or a few centimeters higher.
- Fill the hole with substrate and compact it from the edge to the center.
- Water the pine tree generously. A bucket of water is used for a small seedling. For large specimens, at least 10 liters per linear meter of tree growth will be required.
- The soil is mulched with peat, rotted wood chips or pine bark.
Scots pine planting scheme
In landscape design, the distance between plants is determined by the project. This is the case when a specialist is engaged in landscaping the area. It takes into account the compatibility of crops, the depth of their roots, the need for nutrients, watering, etc.That is, an experienced landscape designer is able to take into account all the subtleties and nuances of not only the immediate needs of plants, but also how large they will grow and whether they will interfere with each other in 5, 10 years or more.
The same thing applies to park management. But there is no such thing as a person on the street doing the planning.
What advice can you give to those who like to plant landscaping on their own? Need to know:
- Tall varieties are placed 4 m from each other, for dwarfs the distance is 1-1.5 m.
- Scots pine loves light and grows quickly. There is no need to worry that tall varieties will be shaded. But next to dwarfs you should not plant fast-growing crops with a wide crown that can block the sun for them.
- The pine root is powerful, although in cultivation it adapts to external conditions. That is, it can be more or less branched, mainly going deeper, or spreading to the sides. In any case, crops planted closely with deep roots will eventually find it difficult to compete with pine - it will simply crowd them out.Important! When planting together, you should not worry about the pine tree, but about the plant located nearby.
- You cannot place a crop next to the conifer that requires regular loosening of the soil, especially deep soil.
- When planting a hedge of pine trees, they can be placed no closer than 50 cm from each other, and this is only if the variety is upright, similar to a species plant. For trees whose crown resembles a bush, the distance should not be less than 1 m.
Scots pine is one of the main species in efforts to restore forests in Europe.They have their own laws for plant placement. Pine trees are planted very close to each other so that their crowns close together over time.
In this case, the lower branches will die off as soon as the young ones block the sun for them. The tree itself will stretch upward. This will allow you to get even, long logs, almost devoid of branches.
Scots pine care
The main problem when growing Scots pine is anthropogenic pollution. Of course, it cleans the air itself, but there is a certain threshold of gas pollution at which it cannot live for long. Otherwise, pine is a low-demanding crop, with the exception of preventive treatments. It can be left alone for a long time and planted in low-maintenance gardens.
Watering and fertilizing
Often, ordinary pine is watered only for the first time after planting, especially in spring. When the tree takes root, this needs to be done several times a season. Watering is increased in hot, dry summers for varietal plants.
They are rarely done, but they spend a lot of water to water the deep-rooted root. At least 10 liters are poured under dwarfs who have not reached a meter. For mature pines, you will need at least a bucket of water for each linear meter of growth.
You need to feed the crop up to 10 years of age twice per season:
- in spring, fertilizers containing mainly nitrogen;
- in the fall, and in the north - at the end of summer, pine trees need phosphorus and potassium.
Then, if the condition of the tree is satisfactory, fertilizing can be stopped. But if the condition of the Scots pine leaves much to be desired, or it grows in an environmentally unfavorable environment, it still needs to be fertilized.
Foliar feeding is of great importance for pine.They are called fast, nutrients are absorbed immediately through the needles, and when applied under the root, the result will become noticeable after weeks. Foliar feeding is done in order to:
- increase pine resistance to stress;
- improve the appearance of the tree;
- give the crop useful substances that it cannot obtain through the root.
Pine needles can be fertilized simultaneously with treatments for pests and diseases to reduce the toxicity of the drugs, and if they contain metal oxides, after 7-10 days.
Foliar feeding is done no more than once every 2 weeks.
Mulching and loosening
The soil under the Scots pine is loosened until it is completely rooted, that is, two seasons, no more. This is done to break the crust formed after watering or rain, to ensure the supply of oxygen, moisture, and nutrients to the root.
For Scots pine, mulching the soil is a mandatory procedure. Especially if the crown is located high. The covering layer will protect the soil from drying out, from the cold in winter, and in summer it will prevent the roots from overheating. It will create favorable conditions for the development of special microflora and prevent germination weed.
Trimming
It is for fast-growing Scots pine that formative pruning is of great importance. If it is not carried out, all varieties, with the exception of some dwarf varieties, will not be able to reach the peak of decorativeness. Skillfully carried out pruning, even from a species of Scots pine, will create a unique masterpiece.
Trees need to be pinched or pruned in the spring, when the young shoot has stopped growing, but the needles have not yet separated from it. The procedure is carried out with sharp pruning shears or a garden knife, but most people prefer to use their own nails.True, then you need to wash your hands stained with resin for a long time, but this really turns out faster and more convenient.
Most sources advise pinch off 1/3 of the shoot. But this is optional. The length of the removed part depends on the purpose of trimming:
- A third of the shoot is pinched if you just want to slow down the growth rate of Scots pine a little and make the crown more luxuriant. At the end of summer or beginning of autumn, many new buds will form in a circle at the cut site; next spring, full-fledged shoots will develop from them.
- Removing 1/2 of a young branch will significantly slow down growth. The tree will become fluffy, with a neater, dense and compact crown.
- To form a pine tree in bonsai style, 2/3 of the shoot is removed.
- If the growth of a tree needs to be directed in a certain direction, the bud must be broken out completely. This is what they do when they build a structure next to a pine tree and want to prevent the branch from hitting the wall.
Interestingly, there is no need to cover the wound surface with garden varnish. Young shoots of Scots pine secrete a lot of resin containing turpentine, disinfect themselves and cover the cut site.
There is no need to throw away “waste”. If you dry the tips of young shoots of Scots pine in a well-ventilated place, protected from the sun, you can get a good tea additive containing a lot of useful substances.
Sanitary pruning of common spruce trees involves removing dry or broken branches.
Preparing for winter
When planting Scots pine in the recommended frost resistance zone, the tree needs to be covered only in the year of planting.In subsequent seasons, they limit themselves to mulching the soil. The layer must be at least 10 cm.
You can increase frost resistance if you feed the pine tree in the fall with phosphorus-potassium fertilizer. If autumn is dry, moisture recharge is carried out - this increases the tree’s resistance to low temperatures and avoids frost damage.
Protection from diseases and pests
In general, Scots pine is a healthy crop. But it is often affected by rust, which is very difficult to fight, especially near industrial centers - polluted air significantly reduces the tree’s immunity. It is because of this fungal disease that pines stand red and lose their needles.
Among the pests, the already mentioned bud shoot (Evetria turionana), which attacks the main shoot, should be mentioned. Because of this, pine trees grow crooked, otherwise their trunk would be stretched out like a string.
To avoid troubles, preventive treatments are carried out once in the fall and twice in the spring, dry and broken branches are removed. Pests are controlled with insecticides, and diseases can be controlled with fungicides.
In order not to extend the treatment, the preparations can be combined by pouring them into one bottle and adding foliar fertilizers, epin, zircon, and humate solution. Only those containing metal oxides, namely copper and iron, are used separately.
Reproduction of Scots pine
Reproduction in nature of Scots Pine occurs through seeds. Nurseries also breed the crop. It can be grafted, but the procedure is complicated, and the tree will not last long. Scots pine cuttings are not used for propagation, since their survival rate is extremely low. It is possible to get a new tree from a branch, but it will be like a miracle.
Even varieties are propagated by seeds, with most seedlings inheriting maternal characteristics. But this is not a task for amateurs. After all, germination of seeds is only 20 percent of success. It is much more difficult to bring them to planting in the ground. And this will take at least 4-5 years, no matter what some sources say.
But no one forbids you to try. And if you're going to get down to business, it's better to do everything right. Sowing is carried out in early spring in boxes with drainage holes dug in the street, or directly into the garden bed, having previously changed the soil. The place should be protected from the wind and well lit. It needs free access.
Stratification slightly increases the germination of pine seeds, but does not significantly affect it. But the risk of damage to planting material due to the slightest mistake is great.
It's better to soak the seeds. Many copies have been broken in disputes about what water to use - ice or room temperature. The difference is insignificant. Or you can even put the seeds in a damp, clean cloth for a day.
Damage to the shell is extra work. Scots pine seeds have a protective cover of such density that it does not prevent swelling or germination.
As a substrate it is better to take sand, sandy loam, lowland peat with sand. Hobbyists should sow to a depth of no more than 5 mm. It does not prevent the sprouts from rising. Scots pine seeds are sown at a depth of 2 cm in nurseries. And it has its own technology, controlled watering, and equipment that is inaccessible (or unnecessary) to amateurs.
If the seeds are planted shallowly, there is a danger of seedlings dying from drying out the soil. The planting needs to be watered frequently. The top layer of soil should not dry out even for a short time.
The sowing rate for Scots pine seeds is 1.5-2 g per linear meter, 2.5-2.7 g per square meter. m.This is quite a lot, since 1000 pieces weigh only 5.5 g. It is clear that when propagating Scots pine, there can be no talk of a sowing pattern.
High-quality Scots pine seeds will sprout in 14-20 days. When there are a lot of them, the seedlings are thinned out, leaving 100 pieces. per 1 linear or square meter.
After the sprouts shed the seed coat and straighten up, they are fed with a weak solution of complex fertilizer. Scots pine picking can be done at a very young age, when the seedlings reach a height of 3-4 cm, or left in a box until the beginning of the next season. At the same time, they should be fed regularly, since the substrate cannot provide the crop with nutrients due to its composition.
Picking is carried out in light soil with the addition of a large amount of sand. For containers, you can take 100 ml plastic cups if it is possible to water the pine seedlings daily, and in the hot summer - several times a day. 200 ml containers are taken when the seedlings will be moistened less frequently. They definitely need to make a hole for water drainage and put in drainage.
Now about shortening the roots. In a seedling 3-4 cm tall, it can reach 10 cm or more, it all depends on the depth of the box. In the ground the root will definitely be long. What can you do, pine has a core, and this manifests itself from a very early age.
The root may break off when digging up the seedlings; if it’s not too short, it’s not a big deal. Pinch it depending on the depth of the container. You can leave it as is, or 5-7 cm on a 3-4 cm seedling. If the picking is done correctly, the survival rate is 80% or more.This is an excellent result for Scots pine.
Seedlings from a small (100 ml) container will have to be transferred to a larger volume in a year or two. 200 ml cups should be enough until planting in a permanent place.
Care consists of fertilizing 1-2 times per season, treating against pests and diseases, protection from strong and drying winds, and regular watering. Of course, pine is a drought-resistant crop, but if the seedlings are not watered on time, they will die.
Finally, I would like to remind you that it is better to sow pine seeds outside. If boxes are used for this, they are dug in in a quiet, sunny place. Indoors, seedlings will grow weak and may die after transplanting to a permanent location. Of course, this does not apply to nurseries, where the premises are specially adapted.
For the winter, Scots pine seedlings are covered with spruce branches.
Application of Scots pine
It is difficult to overestimate Scots pine. It is of great economic importance, is one of the main forest-forming species for Europe, and a valuable ornamental species.
Scots pine in the national economy
Wood is the cheapest and most commonly used building material; it is from it that cellulose is obtained and plywood is made.
Hydrolytic alcohol is produced from sawdust.
Resin is a valuable raw material for the chemical and medical industries; turpentine, essential oil, and rosin are extracted from it.
Medicines are also made from cones, young shoots and needles.
Even mature needles are used to make a vitamin supplement for livestock feed.
Scots pine as a forest-forming species
In Europe and northern Asia, the crop is widely used, especially on sandy soils.It is planted to strengthen slopes, prevent soil erosion, and simply where nothing else will grow.
Scotch pine can form pure plantings, but does well next to other coniferous and deciduous trees.
Scots pine in urban landscaping and park management
Here the importance of culture is small. This is not due to decorative qualities or difficulty of care. The common pine tree does not respond well to air pollution, and in industrial centers or near highways it can quickly die, leaving behind bare, dry trunks with branches sticking out to the sides.
The crop is planted on the territory of botanical gardens, inside a park area, where the air has already been purified by other deciduous and coniferous trees. It will grow satisfactorily in those areas of the city where the wind rose does not carry gas from car exhausts and smoke from industrial enterprises.
Scots pine in landscape design
If the environmental situation allows, the crop will become indispensable when landscaping a large area. On a small one you can plant dwarf varieties.
Even from a species-specific fast-growing tree it is easy to form a beautiful tree. And by skillfully pruning young shoots, you can significantly slow down the rate at which the plant spreads upward and make the crown thicker.
Scots pine is planted as a tapeworm, as part of landscape groups. Depending on the variety, it can advantageously highlight the beauty of other crops, or focus attention on itself.
Conclusion
Scots pine is a valuable crop for decorative landscaping, drought-resistant, undemanding to soil and care. It would be used much more widely with better tolerance to air pollution.
