A majestic specimen with its widespread arched branches with plumes of green needles and orange to orangish-red bark peeling off in plates. Its rounded, horizontal spread will, with age, become a more flattened crown. The trunk is often crooked or twisted, an irregular habit. It may also lean and be multitrunked. One of the most picturesque pines. Insect, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This tree is susceptible to wind damage. More information on Pinus .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
Available space
12-24 feet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in. | Width: 40 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Horizontal; Mounding; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Needled Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Needles
Leaf size
3-6 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
3 to 5 in. thin, upright needles in bundles of 2, bright to dark green. Leaves appear as if tufted
Fall color
Gold/Yellow
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
1.5 to 2 in. dull yellow cones
Bark color
Light Gray; Orange; Red/Burgundy
Bark detail
The orange-red bark will mature to a fissured gray at the base. Develops an exfoliating character.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Eastern temperate 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.
Attracts
Moths; Small Mammals; Songbirds
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn; Meadow; Naturalized Area; Woodland
Landscape theme
Winter Garden
Design feature
Accent; Foundation Planting; Mass Planting; Specimen