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Plants that fill a similar niche:
Cedrus deodara 'Devinely Blue' Cedrus deodara 'Devinely Blue'
Chamaecyparis Chamaecyparis
Salvia rosmarinus Rosmarinus officinalis
Pinus thunbergii 'Thunderhead' has some common insect problems:
Pests of Conifers

Thunderhead Japanese Black Pine Pinus thunbergii 'Thunderhead'

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
PY-nus thun-BER-jee-eye thuhn-DER-hed
Description

Thunderhead pine is a medium-sized evergreen conifer and a compact cultivar of Japanese black pine.  It has an irregular growth habit that adds year-round beauty and character to any landscape.  Its densely packed dark-green glossy needles and silver-white candles or new shoots are an attractive addition to your late winter or early spring garden. The needles are 3.5 to 4.5 inches long and occur in bundles of two. The cones are up to 3 inches long, oval, and brown.

The cultivar originated in 1987 as a seedling selected at Angelica Nursery in Kennedyville, Maryland.

This plant prefers full sun, moist, well-drained soils of loam or sand with a neutral to acidic pH. It prefers cool night temperatures. 

The Thunderhead pine is an excellent choice for a courtyard garden or small city garden.  It may be used as a focal point for an Asian or cottage garden.  It looks great pruned and sculpted into an artistic shape or left in its natural form.  It grows in a tight,  upright mound.

Seasons of Interest:

Foliage:  Year-round   Fruits:  Year-round

Quick ID Hints:

  • compact, irregular shape, medium size
  • dark green, glossy needles in bundles of two
  • new growth in the spring is silver-white candles

Insect, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  This tree may be susceptible to adelgid, conifer aphids, pine sawflies, and pine shoot moths. Possible diseases include honey fungus and needle cast diseases.

VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy, and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.

 

More information on Pinus thunbergii.

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Tags:
#evergreen#silvery#shrub#conifer#salt tolerant#winter interest#cottage garden#year-round interest#wind tolerant#needled evergreen#deer resistant#spring interest#Asian garden#poor soils tolerant#compact habit#wind damage prone#compact#pruning tolerant#full sun#trees#landscape plant sleuths course#accent
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#silvery#shrub#conifer#salt tolerant#winter interest#cottage garden#year-round interest#wind tolerant#needled evergreen#deer resistant#spring interest#Asian garden#poor soils tolerant#compact habit#wind damage prone#compact#pruning tolerant#full sun#trees#landscape plant sleuths course#accent
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Pinus
    Species:
    thunbergii
    Family:
    Pinaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Dimensions:
    Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Perennial
    Shrub
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Irregular
    Mounding
    Pyramidal
    Rounded
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    12-24 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Fruit Length:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Width:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Description:
    The cones are up to 3 inches long, oval, brown, and taper to a point.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    White
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Leaf Type:
    Needles
    Simple
    Leaf Shape:
    Filiform
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    The needles are glossy, dense, long, and dark green. They measure 3.5 to 4.5 inches long and occur in bundles of two. In the spring, the new growth appears as silvery white candles.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Lawn
    Meadow
    Patio
    Slope/Bank
    Walkways
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Asian Garden
    Cottage Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Border
    Foundation Planting
    Mass Planting
    Small groups
    Specimen