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Thunderhead Pine Pinus thunbergii 'Thunderhead'

Other Common Name(s):

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

Thunderhead pine is a shrubby, compact form of the Japanese Black Pine.  It has an irregular growth habit that adds year-round beauty and character to any landscape.  Its densely packed dark-green needles and silver-white candles are an attractive addition to your winter garden.

Use it 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.

Insect, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  This tree is susceptible to wind damage.  

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.

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#silvery#salt tolerant#cottage garden#accent plant#year-round interest#wind tolerant#deer resistant#Asian garden#poor soils tolerant#wind damage prone#pruning tolerant
 
Pinus thunbergii 'Thunderhead'
Form Greg Hume CC BY-SA 4.0
Pinus thunbergii 'Thunderhead'
Candles David J. Stang CC BY-SA 4.0
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#silvery#salt tolerant#cottage garden#accent plant#year-round interest#wind tolerant#deer resistant#Asian garden#poor soils tolerant#wind damage prone#pruning tolerant
  • 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:
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Mounding
    Pyramidal
    Rounded
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    White
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    Silvery white candles in spring, rich, dark green densely packed needles
  • 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