Read an informative profile about the black pine here with explanations of cones, wood, growth and use. This is how you plant and care for Pinus nigra correctly.
What characterizes the black pine (Pinus nigra)?
The black pine (Pinus nigra) is a frost-hardy conifer native to southern Europe, North Africa and Asia Minor. It grows up to 30 meters tall and is valued for its resin-rich, long-lasting wood, cones and healing properties. Pinus nigra is undemanding, tolerates heat, cold and wind, and is suitable for parks, reforestation and as timber.
Profile
- Scientific name: Pinus nigra
- Occurrence: Southern Europe, North Africa, Asia Minor
- Growth type: conifer
- Growth height: 20 m to 30 m
- Leaves: Needles
- Flowers: cone-shaped
- Fruits: cones
- Wood: rich in resin, durable
- Roots: deep roots
- Winter hardiness: frost hardy
- Age: up to 800 years
- Use: park tree, timber, medicinal plant
Cones
The flower and fruit of a black pine are cones. On this monoecious tree species, male and female flower cones are inconspicuous. It takes up to two years for the distinctive pine cones to form from fertilized female flowers. The following overview summarizes important facts about the cones of a black pine:
- Flowering time: April to June
- Male flower: green, 2-3 mm long, terminal, clustered on long shoots
- Female flowers: greenish, later crimson, short-stemmed, grouped, in twos or fours
- Fruits: 4-12 cm long, 2-5 cm thick, very woody, brown cones
In contrast to upright pine cones, the cones of a black pine hang on the branch or protrude at an angle. When the light brown cones open, the previously hidden black cone scales can be seen.
Wood
The wood of a black pine is particularly rich in resin and durable. The tree species was used for resin extraction in Austria until the 20th century. The following properties characterize the wood:
- Sapwood: whitish-yellow, broad
- Heartwood: dark red, rich in resin
- Graphic density: 590 kg/m³
- Compressive strength: 51 N/mm²
- Tensile strength: 104 N/mm²
- Bending strength: 100 N/mm²
Connoisseurs appreciate that the wood of Pinus nigra can be easily impregnated. Black pine is a good choice for use in timber construction with water contact, such as in shipbuilding or for wooden walkways on garden ponds.
Growth
In terms of silviculture, the black pine is important worldwide for the reforestation of problematic locations thanks to its undemanding nature. For hobby gardeners, this fact is only one aspect of planting the magnificent conifer. It's worth taking a look at the following compact facts about growth:
- Growth habit: imposing, broad-conical, later spreading-umbrella-shaped up to 30 meters high.
- Special feature: densely leafed branches grow in even tiers.
- Needles: light to dark green, rigid and piercing, 8 cm to 24 cm long, arranged in pairs.
- Bark: gray-brown, furrowed black, peeling off in plates as it ages.
- Roots: Deep-rooted, pronounced horizontal-vertical root system
- Caution: Root system expansion raises deposits.
The annual rings can be clearly seen in the cut trunk so that the age can be determined from the number. According to scientific findings, the black pine can live up to 800 years.
The following video highlights the limits of the undemanding nature of black pines:
Video: Germany's largest black pine forest in danger
Occurrences
The natural distribution area of black pines has become significantly fragmented due to the past ice ages. Pinus nigra occurs in these regions:
- Southern Europe, parts of North Africa and Asia Minor
- Northern border: Austria
- Eastern border: Crimean Peninsula (Black Sea)
- Southern border: Atlas Mountains (Morocco), Algeria, Sicily, Cyprus
Because the black pine is so insensitive and frost-hardy, the conifer has gained considerable value in silvicultural terms in recent years. Today the distribution area extends across the whole of Germany. As a result of targeted reforestation, the southern European tree species is just as common in forests and public parks as the native Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris). The conifer made the jump across the Atlantic in 1759. At that time, the black pine was one of the first European tree species to be imported into the USA.
Usage
The black pine scores with numerous advantages and a wide range of practical uses. Pinus nigra is rich in resin, is insensitive to erosion, s alt spray or strong wind, can withstand bitter cold and sweltering heat, produces high-quality wood and has various healing properties. The following table provides an overview:
| Important tree species | Lumber | Healing effects |
|---|---|---|
| Park tree | Lumber (posts, plywood) | anti-inflammatory |
| Reforestation | Carpentry work | antiseptic |
| Windbreak | Colophony for musical instruments | antirheumatic |
| erosion protection | Stage construction (does not creak) | decongestant |
| Christmas tree | Shipbuilding | invigorating |
| Garden Bonsai | Turpentine production | Odour-neutralizing, fragrant |
Please note: No healing effect without side effects. This rule of thumb also applies to black pine oil as a natural remedy. If the dosage is too high, painful skin irritations can occur.
Planting black pine
In nurseries and garden centers you can buy black pines in bales or in containers. The best time to plant is in autumn or spring. Basically, you can plant Pinus nigra at any time of year as long as the ground is not frozen. The flexibility in planting time continues seamlessly in the choice of location and planting technique. Read useful tips about the perfect planting of a black pine in the following sections:
Location
The location requirements of a black pine underline its much-praised undemanding nature:
- Lighting conditions: sunny to partially shaded location (the sunnier, the more magnificent the needle dress).
- Soil: normal garden soil, from dry-sandy to loamy-moist, from nutrient-rich to lean.
The only exclusion criterion when choosing a location is waterlogging. If the root system is regularly under water, the black pine will not grow. In this case, another conifer comes into focus. You can also plant the bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) in the middle of the garden pond.
Planting black pine
Dig a planting pit with twice the volume of the root ball. Organic starter fertilization is beneficial for rapid growth. If you have it at hand, mix mature compost with horn shavings into the excavation. Soak the roots in water in advance until no more air bubbles appear. Plant the black pine at ground level and tamp down the soil. The ideal planting depth can be recognized by a mark on the trunk. Water abundantly and regularly on the day of planting and thereafter.
Excursus
Climate tree of the future
Hardly any other European tree species is better equipped to face the challenges of climate change than the black pine. The conifer forms dense stands on the most difficult soils in terms of silviculture. The black pine can easily tolerate summer drought, heat up to 40° Celsius and cold down to -30° Celsius. On top of that, a Pinus nigra with its resin-rich wood fends off the attacks of voracious bark beetles.
Care for black pine
The undemanding nature of a black pine is reflected in its uncomplicated care. You do not need to fertilize a well-rooted Pinus nigra. Experience has shown that a rainfall of 600 to 1,000 milliliters already covers the water requirement. Only water the conifer once or twice a week if the drought persists.
Regular pruning care is only part of the care program if you prescribe a topiary for your black pine. Yellow or brown needles are due to site problems or disease. The following sections explain the details:
Cutting
For light-flooded growth, remove the dead wood every two to three years. The best time is in February. Saw or cut off a thick, dead branch on Astring. Take this opportunity to cut back excessively long branches. It is important to note that there are green needles below the intersection. Conifers that have been pruned too deeply no longer sprout from old wood.
For a topiary cut, dedicate yourself to the conifer again between May and June. Shorten the candles of the fresh shoots by half. Alternatively, break the soft candles in the middle by hand.
Yellow and brown needles – causes
The most common causes of yellow and brown needles on Pinus nigra are:
- Year change in the leaves: old needles die and make room for new leaves.
- Location problems: if the place is too dark or waterlogged, the needles change color and fall off.
- Diseases: Pine shoots (Lophodermium seditiosum), pine leaf rust (Melampsora populnea), black pine shoot dieback (Gremmeniella abietina).
When there is a frost, a black pine suffers from drought stress. The root system is frozen, with no snow or rain falling as a natural water supply. The needles then turn yellow, later brown and fall off. By watering the tree occasionally in winter on mild days, the needles will stay lush green.
Popular varieties
A colorful array of beautiful black pine varieties awaits hobby gardeners in tree nurseries, garden centers and hardware stores:
- Austrian black pine (Pinus nigra austriaca): deep green needles, broad umbrella-shaped growth, 20-30 m high.
- Pyramidata: Columnar black pine, needles up to 20 cm long, slender growth up to 5 m high.
- Nana: Shrub black pine, densely bushy, spherical, 1.50 m high, beautiful in the pot and in the cemetery.
- Green Tower: conical black pine up to 2.50 m high, bears cones at a young age.
- Corsican black pine (Pinus nigra subsp. laricio): comes from Corsica, tolerates summer heat particularly well.
FAQ
Is the black pine suitable as a Christmas tree?
The black pine is a popular Christmas tree among our southern European neighbors. The robust tree species is also often used as a Christmas tree in the USA. North of the Alps, the Nordmann fir has so far taken the lead as a Christmas tree. In recent years, the picturesque black pine has become more and more common in the Christmas lights because the needles only fall off in January.
What is the difference between pine and black pine?
The most important difference is the needles. In a pine tree, especially the native Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), the needles are blue-green, 4-7 cm long and noticeably twisted. Black pine needles are light to dark green and 8-24 cm long. At 8 cm, classic pine cones are significantly shorter than black pine cones, which are up to 12 cm long. Furthermore, the bark of a pine tree is gray-yellow, later brown-red to copper-colored. On the trunk of a black pine, the bark is gray-brown and furrowed black.
What healing properties does black pine oil have?
Spicy-resinous black pine oil is at the forefront in aromatherapy. The essential oil relieves respiratory diseases, strengthens the immune system and relaxes tense muscles. Black pine oil is also said to have antiseptic and anti-inflammatory healing effects. Regular rubs help with rheumatism and arthritis. However, if the dosage is incorrect, undesirable side effects can occur, such as bronchoplasma and skin inflammation and even ulcers.
What location requirements does the black pine have as a garden bonsai?
When cultivating as a big bonsai, there are no compromises to be made in terms of location requirements. As a garden bonsai, the black pine prefers a sunny to semi-shady location so that it can display the lush green needles decoratively. The conifer is undemanding when it comes to soil quality. The extensive root system of a black pine bonsai happily extends into any normal garden soil.
What is the specific gravity of black pine wood?
The wood of a black pine has a specific weight of around 590 kilograms per cubic meter. This value applies to air-dried wood. Freshly cut black pine wood contains more water and is slightly heavier. After chamber drying at 100°, the value drops below 500 kilograms per cubic meter.
