The black pine is a rare guest in our forests. The Mediterranean conifer is becoming increasingly popular as a decorative house tree. Reason enough to familiarize yourself with the attributes of a Pinus nigra. The following profile provides information that is of interest to hobby gardeners.
What characterizes the black pine (Pinus nigra)?
The black pine (Pinus nigra) is an evergreen conifer that grows up to 40 meters high. It belongs to the pine family (Pinaceae) and is native to southern Europe. The green-yellow male and crimson female cones as well as the black colored cone scales are striking.
Systematics and appearance
We come across black pine trees more and more often in parks, cemeteries or within large gardens. There the imposing conifer appears impressively as a solitary tree or in a group. These characteristics characterize the tree:
- Belongs to the plant family Pinaceae
- Name of the species: Black pine (Pinus nigra), more rarely black pine
- Growth height in cultivation: 20 to 40 meters
- Two-needle tree with straight growth and a wide, spreading crown
- Deep-rooted plant native to southern Europe
- Green-yellow male and crimson female flower cones
- Winter hardy and excellent drought tolerance
The pine species owes its name to the black colored cone scales, which serve as a clear distinguishing feature from other pine plants.
Tips on location and care
The black pine will attract a lot of attention in the future, as hardly any other tree proves to be so easy to care for. In addition, environmental pollution has little effect on a Pinus nigra, so the tree is becoming more relevant for inner-city planting. The following overview summarizes what you should pay attention to when choosing a location and maintaining it:
- Sunny, preferably full sunny location
- Thrives in any normal, deep garden soil
- Only water during long periods of drought in summer and winter
- No fertilization required outdoors
- Administer liquid fertilizer in the bucket every 4 weeks from April to August
To regulate size growth and create a dense habit, you can prune the black pine once a year. In the period from mid-May to mid-June, shorten the fresh shoots - called candles - by half. Ideally, the needles are still in place at this point. At the same time, thin out the crown thoroughly.
Tip
A black pine usually completes its growth at the age of 150 years and reaches a height of 40 meters. At this time, a Pinus nigra is still in its teenage years. In the ideal location in the mild Mediterranean climate, an age of 600 to 800 years is not uncommon.
