Pines come in many different types. The Scots pine is a special variety. Would you like to find out more about its characteristics, location and soil requirements or growth habit? Then you are exactly right here. The following profile explains the characteristics of the Scots pine.
What are the characteristics and uses of Scots pine?
The Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) is an evergreen conifer that grows 20-40 m high and is found throughout Europe. It prefers sandy or loamy, acidic or alkaline soils and lots of light. The Scots pine is important for lumber, furniture, toys and energy production.
General
- German name: Scots pine
- Synonyms: Scots pine, red pine, forche, white pine
- Latin name: Pinus silvestres
- Tree species: evergreen conifer
- Life expectancy: over 500 years
- Gender: unisexual, monoecious
- Type of pollination: wind pollination, cross-pollination
Growth and external appearance
Height and shape
- Growth height: 20-40 m
- Shape: crooked, small crown, crown overhanging on one side
Needles
- hard
- up to 7 cm long
Cones
- Color: green when unripe, then brown
- Quantity: up to 1,600 pieces per pine tree
- both male and female cones on a tree
- Species: seed cones (slightly larger, female), pollen cones (slightly smaller, male)
- only open when it is dry
Bark
- deep furrows
- rough plates
- resistant to fire
Occurrences
- all over Europe
- Often artificially planted in Germany
- grows even in uneconomical areas under extreme conditions
- With a share of 24%, the most common conifer in Germany
- also the most common of all pine species in Germany
Environmental demands
Light need
- needs a lot of light
- the pine tree dies as undergrowth
- but also grows in the forest
Soil texture
- very low standards
- not too wet
- forms its own humus
- also grows in the moor
- frequent symbioses with fungi on poor soils
- preferably sandy or loamy soils
- optimal pH value: strongly acidic or strongly alkaline
Temperature
- prefers warm locations
- Frost hardness:- 36°C
Economic use
- Lumber
- Furniture
- Toys
- Flooring
- in the fiber and pulp industry
- for energy production
- Wood is rather soft and elastic and is easy to process
- However, wood is not weatherproof
Pests
- Pine Owl
- jaw span
- Pine moth
- Weevils
- Red deer or roe deer (injuries to the bark caused by sweeping or eating)
Suitable companion plants
- Oak
- Beech
- hornbeam
- Douglas fir
- Larch
