An adaptable, cold hardy, elegant variety of pine. Its form is pyramidal when young, with branches of densely set needles, that feather to the ground. As the tree matures, its more of a loose pyramidal shape, rounded crown and branches spreading horizontally, with the branches often reaching the ground. It is moderately drought tolerant. Its mature brown cones contain large edible seeds (Pine nuts). Its timber is used for furniture and construction. 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) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in. | Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Pyramidal
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Needled Evergreen
Leaf color
Blue; Green; White
Leaf type
Needles
Leaf size
3-6 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
3.5 to 4.5 in. blue-green needles in bundles of 3 to 5, glossy green above and blue-white below, an overall blue-green appearance
Flower color
Brown/Copper
Flower value
Edible
Flower size
3-6 inches
Flower detail
3.5 to 6 in. cones, single or in clusters. Turns brown
Bark color
Dark Brown; Dark Gray; Red/Burgundy
Bark detail
Gray-brown bark flakes to reveal a reddish-brown inner bark.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Covered with dense reddish-brown pubescence, turning brown with age.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Korea, Japan
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; Patio; Recreational Play Area; Walkways; Woodland
Landscape theme
Nighttime Garden; Winter Garden
Design feature
Barrier; Border; Hedge; Mass Planting; Screen/Privacy; Small groups; Specimen