Pinus

One hundred coniferous evergreen species make up the genus Pinus. These trees (less often shrubs) have different crown shapes and sizes - from creeping shrubs to very tall trees (more than 70 m). The crown of young plants is conical, with horizontally branching branches, rounded with age. Elongated shoots with scaly needles, and shortened shoots located on them - with bundles of 2, 3, 5 needles. The bark is gray, red-brown or black. Male flowers, yellow or reddish, are almost only anthers (the upper part of the stamens). Mature cones are woody, erect, drooping; seed scales at the end thickened into a scutellum. Seeds are nut-shaped, often winged. It is pollinated by wind. Many types of pine trees are particularly decorative. This includes cedar pine, a group of species of the Pine genus that produce edible seeds (pine nuts). Cedar pine (Pinus cembra) is a high-altitude species; needles 7-8 cm long are collected in 5 pieces. It is a very stable tree with rather slow growth. Cones are formed only on adult specimens; they are ovate, first green, then purple-brown. The most common Siberian cedar pine (P. sibiria) is a slow-growing and long-lived tree. It grows in a wide variety of soils; it does not tolerate air pollution from smoke. There are low-growing and creeping forms. Spinous pine (P. aristata) is the longest-lived tree species in the world. It grows in well-drained soils and rocky slopes. Black pine (nigra river) is characterized by a flattened crown. It has various forms: black Calabrian pine (p. n. maritime) with gray-green needles, which are often twisted, and black Austrian pine (P.n. nigra, or p. n. austriaca), - they have paired needles 8-16 cm long, cones are expanded at the base and pointed at the ends. Sea pine (P. pinaster) is a stable Mediterranean species with a spreading crown, sometimes taking the form of an umbrella. The needles are paired, 10-12 cm long. Glossy cones have an oval-conical shape. The crown of the Italian pine, or pinia (P. pinea), has the shape of an umbrella. This is a Mediterranean species with 10-12-centimeter-long paired needles in a bundle and edible seeds; the cones have an almost regular spherical shape. Common pine, or forest pine (P. sylvestris), is a tree up to 40 m high with short, curved and twisted needles of a bluish-green color collected in pairs. The species is frost-resistant, drought-resistant, and unpretentious to soil conditions.

One hundred coniferous evergreen species make up the genus Pinus. These trees (less often shrubs) have different crown shapes and sizes - from creeping shrubs to very tall trees (more than 70 m). The crown of young plants is conical, with horizontally branching branches, rounded with age. Elongated shoots with scaly needles, and shortened shoots located on them - with bundles of 2, 3, 5 needles. The bark is gray, red-brown or black. Male flowers, yellow or reddish, are almost only anthers (the upper part of the stamens). Mature cones are woody, erect, drooping; seed scales at the end thickened into a scutellum. Seeds are nut-shaped, often winged. It is pollinated by wind.

Many types of pine trees are particularly decorative. This includes cedar pine, a group of species of the Pine genus that produce edible seeds (pine nuts). Cedar pine (Pinus cembra) is a high-altitude species; needles 7-8 cm long are collected in 5 pieces. It is a very stable tree with rather slow growth. Cones are formed only on adult specimens; they are ovate, first green, then purple-brown.

The most common Siberian cedar pine (P. sibiria) is a slow-growing and long-lived tree. It grows in a wide variety of soils; it does not tolerate air pollution from smoke. There are low-growing and creeping forms.

Spinous pine (P. aristata) is the longest-lived tree species in the world. It grows in well-drained soils and rocky slopes.

Black pine (nigra river) is characterized by a flattened crown. It has various forms: black Calabrian pine (p. n. maritime) with gray-green needles, which are often twisted, and black Austrian pine (P.n. nigra, or p. n. austriaca), - they have paired needles 8-16 cm long, cones are expanded at the base and pointed at the ends.

Sea pine (P. pinaster) is a stable Mediterranean species with a spreading crown, sometimes taking the form of an umbrella. The needles are paired, 10-12 cm long. Glossy cones have an oval-conical shape.

The crown of the Italian pine, or pinia (P. pinea), has the shape of an umbrella. This is a Mediterranean species with 10-12-centimeter-long paired needles in a bundle and edible seeds; the cones have an almost regular spherical shape.

Common pine, or forest pine (P. sylvestris), is a tree up to 40 m high with short, curved and twisted needles of a bluish-green color collected in pairs. The species is frost-resistant, drought-resistant, and unpretentious to soil conditions.

Cultivation

Pine trees are used in parks and gardens, depending on the species - in single plantings or in small groups. At an early stage, they can be grown in containers, but then planted in the open ground-in autumn or spring. Most species prefer slightly acidic soil. Only some (for example, sylvestris pine) are suitable for calcareous soil. Pruning is practically not required. And the top of the plant should not be touched at all in any case.

Location

Pine trees prefer a sunny place.

Temperature

In general, pines are not capricious in terms of air temperature, even those that are grown mainly in the marine climate of the temperate zone, for example, Italian pine and sea pine.

Watering

Pine trees are extremely resistant to drought, so they do not need to be watered.

Reproduction

It is propagated by seed, some species-by seedlings from the stump, in culture valuable forms-by grafting (very rarely-by cuttings). The most common method of propagation is sowing seeds in March in a seedbed. As soon as the seedlings grow up, they are planted singly in pots. Planting in a permanent place is carried out after 2-3 years, and before that, if necessary, they are transplanted into new pots.

Diseases

Caterpillars of the moth Thaumatopea pityocampa eat shoots and needles, causing them to fall off. According to the existing legislation, this pest must be combated without fail. One of the most effective methods is to separate the silky nests formed by crowded butterfly caterpillars from the trunk of the plant (the operation must be performed with gloves to protect your hands from burning caterpillar hairs), and burn them. Naturally, young plants are more susceptible to damage. Moreover, weakened trees are less resistant to other pests and diseases. Blood aphids cause the needles to turn yellow, fall off, and dry out. This is a serious harm, especially for young plants, which, however, can be treated in advance with anti-aphid preparations. Other common pine pests are the small pine bast-eater, a beetle that bites through galleries in the trunk, and Olygonychus ununguis, which causes discoloration and falling of needles. They are disposed of with insecticides and acaricides, but only young plants can be treated.

Acquisition

Most species are easily found in specialized gardening centers and nurseries. Choose small specimens that can already be held straight without supports and are in excellent condition.