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Plants that fill a similar niche:
Pinus elliottii Form
Pinus ponderosa Pinus ponderosa
Pinus sylvestris Pinus sylvestris
Pinus pinea has some common insect problems:
Pests of Conifers

Pinus pinea

Phonetic Spelling
PY-nus PY-nee-uh
Description

The umbrella pine has a single trunk with branches at the top radiating out like an umbrella.  You can find it growing in the coastal dunes and lower hills of the Mediterranean.   It grows best the full sun in sandy to loam soil with a slightly acidic pH.  The edible seeds are released when the cones get hot.  Deer browsing and drought do not bother well-established trees.  This tree is used as a Christmas tree in some areas.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Pine needle scale, Sawflies, borers and moths can be pests.  It can suffer from fungus Diplodia pinea and Mycosphaerella pini or red band needle blight. This tree is susceptible to wind damage.  

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#drought tolerant#fragrant leaves#low maintenance#winter interest#flower arrangements#dye plant#nighttime garden#non-flowering#playground plant#Mediterranean#glossy#edible seeds#dried arrangements#larval host plant#evergreen tree#umbrella#wind damage prone#imperial moth#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#drought tolerant#fragrant leaves#low maintenance#winter interest#flower arrangements#dye plant#nighttime garden#non-flowering#playground plant#Mediterranean#glossy#edible seeds#dried arrangements#larval host plant#evergreen tree#umbrella#wind damage prone#imperial moth#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Pinus
    Species:
    pinea
    Family:
    Pinaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    The resin of this pine is used for varnishes, furniture wax and as an antiseptic and for kidney and bladder problems. A green dye can be made from the needles. The pine nuts are edible.
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Grafting
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Europe
    Wildlife Value:
    This plant supports Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed.
    Play Value:
    Edible fruit
    Textural
    Edibility:
    The seeds are highly edible and sold in the market as 'pine nuts'. They can be eaten raw or roasted.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Edible
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Loam (Silt)
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Description:
    It does not have fruits, produces cones with cream-colored egg-shaped edible seeds. Dried cones are used in flower arrangments.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Description:
    Non-flowering
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    Needles are in groups of 2 and are covered with a dull gray wax coating when young but become dark green and glossy when older.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Brown
    Dark Gray
    Orange
    Red/Burgundy
    Surface/Attachment:
    Fissured
    Patchy
    Bark Plate Shape:
    Irregular
    Bark Description:
    Orange to red-brown with gray patches and thick scaly irregular fissures
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Landscape Theme:
    Edible Garden
    Nighttime Garden
    Winter Garden
    Attracts:
    Moths
    Small Mammals
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought