Scotch Pine Pinus sylvestris
- Phonetic Spelling
- PY-nus sil-VES-tris
- Description
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Good landscape form, but later becomes more open. A picturesque plant with age, having orangish, brown bark and great variability among seedlings.
The best growing conditions include full sun and well-drained soil. It will tolerate poor, dry site and is easily transplanted.
The native location of the plant will affect the habit, hardiness and needle appearance of each plant. It may typically reach upwards to 60' in height in cultivation, to dwarf specimens.
This non-native plant has naturalized in the northeast and north-central areas of the US. It was introduced from Eurasia.
Some pests affecting the Scotch Pine are pine wilt nematodes, sawflies, moths, and scale.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Aurea'
Yellow needle, yellow-green shoots, green in summer, golden in winter - 'Fastigiata'
Narrow, columnar habit
'Glauca Nana'
- 'Gold Coin'
Yellow needle, yellow-green shoots, green in summer, golden in winter - 'Gold Medal'
Yellow needle, yellow-green shoots, green in summer, golden in winter
'Nana'
Dwarf blue scotch pine
Dwarf Scotch pine 'Watereri'
Shrub form - 'Aurea'
- 'Aurea', 'Fastigiata', 'Glauca Nana', 'Gold Coin', 'Gold Medal', 'Nana', 'Watereri'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Aurea'
Yellow needle, yellow-green shoots, green in summer, golden in winter - 'Fastigiata'
Narrow, columnar habit
'Glauca Nana'
- 'Gold Coin'
Yellow needle, yellow-green shoots, green in summer, golden in winter - 'Gold Medal'
Yellow needle, yellow-green shoots, green in summer, golden in winter
'Nana'
Dwarf blue scotch pine
Dwarf Scotch pine 'Watereri'
Shrub form - 'Aurea'
- 'Aurea', 'Fastigiata', 'Glauca Nana', 'Gold Coin', 'Gold Medal', 'Nana', 'Watereri'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Pinus
- Species:
- sylvestris
- Family:
- Pinaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- This plant is cultivated for windbreaks, timber, and plantations for Christmas trees.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Northern Europe and Northern Asia
- 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. Porcupines consume the bark, pine grosbeak feed on the buds.
- Play Value:
- Fragrance
- Pieces Used in Games
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 70 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 35 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Columnar
- Pyramidal
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4b, 4a, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8b, 8a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Yellow-brown, ovoid in shape, slightly stalked one
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- 1.5 to 3 in. cones solitary or in groups of 2 to 3
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 1 to 3 in. bluish-green needles in pairs, yellow-green in winter
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Peeling
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Orange/red-brown flaking bark
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Young stems are green, with aging become brown. Typically twisted, dense and pendulous on the lower branches.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Meadow
- Patio
- Pool/Hardscape
- Recreational Play Area
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Foundation Planting
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Urban Conditions
