More than a hundred tree names that make up the genus of pine trees are distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere. In addition, some species of pine can be found in the mountains a little south and even in the tropical zone. These are evergreen monoecious conifers with needle leaves.
The division is mainly based on the territorial affiliation of the range, although many species of pine plants are artificially bred and, as a rule, are named after the breeder.
General description of the genus pine
The appearance of the pine can be different: most often these are trees, and sometimes creeping shrubs. The shape of the crown varies with age from pyramidal to spherical or umbrella-shaped. This is due to the death of the lower branches and the rapid growth of the branches in breadth.
The shoots on which the needles are collected are normal, shortened or elongated. The needles collected in bunches, flat or trihedral, narrow and long, do not fall for 3-6 years. Around the base are small scales. Fruits are cones within which seeds develop (with and without wings).
In general, various species of pine are not too whimsical, drought-resistant, frost-resistant and do not require fertile soil. Plants prefer dry sandy and rocky soils, although the exception is the Weimutova, Wallicha pine, resinous and cedar, which willingly grow with moderate moisture. Limestone soil is suitable for mountain pine. Now consider in more detail some varieties of this culture.
Common pine
This is perhaps the most common coniferous tree of Eurasia, which can be called a symbol of the Russian forest. The common pine species is photophilous, it feels normal both in the harsh northern climate and in the steppe heat. It’s difficult to tolerate urban conditions, but it is the main culture for creating forest tracts on sandy soil. In landscape design, an ordinary pine tree is in demand for a variety of decorative forms and rapid growth.
The tree can grow up to 40 meters. The bark is cracked, reddish-brown; the young plant has a thin, slightly orange. The needles are bluish in color, doubled, stiff, even or curved, 4-6 centimeters long. The maximum age of the tree under favorable conditions is 400-600 years.
There are many artificially bred low and dwarf varieties of Scots pine. Under natural conditions on the territory of the range, it occurs in a variety of forms and easily interbreeds with species such as black and mountain pine. Depending on the area of growth, about 30 ecological forms — ecotypes — are also distinguished.
Siberian cedar pine
Other types of pines are also popular. In Russia, one of the most valuable forest tree species is Siberian cedar pine - a powerful tree with a rich multi-vertex ovoid crown. The needles are short (6-13 cm), rough. Frost-resistant, grows near the permafrost zone, in the taiga strip. The seeds of large cones are edible and rich in fatty oils. It reaches a height of 3 meters.
Cedar pine pine
Distributed in Western Siberia and the Far East. Cedar dwarf pine has a bushy shape, grows densely and has the ability to take root by branches lowered to the ground. It is a decorative variety due to beautiful gray-green needles, bright red male spikelets and spectacular red-purple cones.
Pine Weimutova
Very beautiful and tall pine.
Varieties and species of North American conifers are of great economic importance. Veymutov pine is distinguished by a thin, soft and long needles of a bluish-green color. Cones have a curved elongated shape. It withstands severe frosts, but with all the unpretentiousness is not suitable for landscaping the city.
Mountain pine Veymutova
Some well-known species of pine grow in the Crimea, for example, the mountain Weimutova. This is a very beautiful North American variety, which differs from the previous shortened blue-green needles and large, somewhat curved cones. The height of an adult tree is about 30 meters, the crown is narrow, a characteristic reddish pubescence on young shoots. This is a thermophilic tree, although it is difficult to tolerate drought. It grows mainly in those mountainous areas that are protected from sea winds.
Pallas Pine (Crimean pine)
Another species widespread on the Crimean peninsula. Pallas Pine - a tall tree, about 20 meters. The crust is reddish-black, mottled with cracks. The crown is dense, changing shape from ovoid to umbellate. It differs in horizontally spread branches with ends bent up and large cones. The Crimean pine is photophilous, undemanding to the soil, easily tolerates a lack of moisture. It also grows in the Caucasus, Crete, the Balkans, and Asia Minor.
Pine Armanda
Decorative Chinese look with a characteristic long and thin needles, edible oil seeds. It grows exclusively in the warm southern regions.
Pine Banks
It features a multi-barrel structure, imported from North America. The light green needles are rather short and twisted, the bumps are curved. It grows up to 25 meters in height. Frost-resistant, unpretentious look is suitable for any soil. It is bred only in botanical gardens.
Geldreich Pine
This species is common in the Balkans and southern Italy. It is characterized by a spectacular long needles of pale green color. Like many other types of pines, photos of which are presented in the material, it is very unpretentious, moreover, it easily tolerates urban conditions. Weakness - not hardy enough for the middle lane, so it is ideal for the southern regions.
Mountain pine
Very attractive and mountain pine. Species of pine trees are scattered throughout the Northern Hemisphere. This species grows in the mountains of Central and Southern Europe. It is a large branched tree or open elfin. Of particular interest to landscape design are a variety of compact decorative trees, from which they create beautiful compositions along the banks of ponds, in rocky gardens, etc. The maximum height is 10 meters and the minimum is 40 centimeters.
Dense pine
One of the winter-hardy species grown in central Russia is the so-called red Japanese pine. The main condition for its good growth is not too long freezing of the soil. The needles are long and crowded at the end of the branch; during dusting, the tree exudes aroma. It does not accept urban conditions, grows on poor sandy soils.
Small-flowered pine, or white pine
Japanese species of decorative pines are represented by small-flowered (white) pine, which got its second name for the spectacular white or bluish stripes on the needles, pronounced due to curl. It is not hardy, in the middle zone of Russia only a dwarf dwarf variety grows. Since the tree loves warmth and good lighting, the climate of the Black Sea coast is excellent for it.
Yellow pine
A luxurious view with a narrow, pyramidal, openwork crown in nature grows in North America. It has a long needles and a beautiful thick bark. It takes root in the southern regions and the middle zone of Russia, but freezes in especially cold winters. The height of the tree reaches 10 meters. It prefers places protected from the winds, so it is best to plant in groups. The yellow pine is not susceptible to urban harmful conditions.
European cedar pine
The European appearance of cedar pine is similar to the Siberian "relative". The difference lies in the smaller size, denser sprawling crown and long thin needles. In addition, the cones and seeds of the tree are not so large. Grows slower, but lives longer. It will look perfect in single and group landscape gardening.
Korean pine cedar
Quite a rare decorative species growing in the Far East, East Asia, Korea, Japan. In beauty, this coniferous tree can be compared with the Siberian cedar pine, although the crown of the “Korean woman” is less dense, pubescent with gray-green needles and decorated with decorative cones. Edible seeds are also edible. The culture tolerates frosts in the middle zone of Russia relatively normally, it grows with a short tree, although in the wild its height can reach 40-50 meters.
Montezuma Pine
The owner of a very long needles, naturally found in western North America and Guatemala.
The tree grows up to 30 meters tall and has a spreading spherical crown. Huge conical cones can reach a length of 25 cm. It prefers warm and humid climate, therefore, it perfectly survives in the Crimea. Not susceptible to diseases and pests.
Spiny pine
Many decorative species of pine, including the spiny, grow well and bear fruit in the conditions of central Russia. This North American species is quite rare and is a small tree or bush with raised branches that form a lush spreading crown. The needles are dense, and on the cones there are long thorns. Unpretentious and winter-hardy all varieties.
Rumelian pine
A species of Balkan pine has a low pyramidal crown, densely green needles 5-10 centimeters long and cylindrical hanging cones on the legs. Young shoots naked. Brown bark, exfoliating. The Rumelian pine is growing rapidly and does not have special requirements for lighting and soils. Used in the decoration of parks.
Twisted pine (coniferous)
It grows in North America and, thanks to good winter hardiness, is bred in central Russia. The culture extends over large areas along the Pacific coast. The name is given for a pair of twisted needles. It can be a bush or a tall (up to 50 meters) tree, the lower branches of which are omitted, and the upper ones are either spreading, or are directed upward. Culture is growing quite slowly, but it is unpretentious to living conditions not only in nature, but even in the city.
Thunberg Pine
A rare decorative look from Japan, which is also called black pine. The main habitat is alpine forests, about 1000 meters above sea level. This evergreen tree grows up to 40 meters in height. The crown is usually irregular in shape, light green in color, with long stiff needles (8-14 cm x 2 mm). The bark is black, and the young shoots are orange and bare. Thunberg pine cones are almost flat, and gray seeds with wings. Heat-loving and moisture-loving culture, which in our country is growing well in Sochi.
Himalayan pine (Wallich or Wallich)
Luxurious long coniferous pine came from the Himalayas and from the Tibetan mountains. It grows rapidly, does not tolerate frosts too well, is hygrophilous. The ideal place for our culture is the Crimea, where it bears fruit. A tree in nature reaches a height of 30-50 meters. A beautiful 18-centimeter gray-green needles hang. Decorative yellow cones are also long - about 32 centimeters. The species is cultivated for group landscape planting.
Black pine
Many decorative species of pines are wild-growing, including black pine, which came to us from the mountainous regions of Central Europe. This breed is very resistant to urban conditions. The name received for a very dark bark and dense green plentifully growing needles. Thanks to this, shady zones are created in contrast to the ordinary pine. In Russia, it is more suitable for the steppe part of the North Caucasus, although low-growing decorative forms can be bred to the north.
What are pine cones?
Different types of pine cones differ in their shapes, sizes and colors. But all of them are soft, yellow-green at the beginning of life, and as they grow older they become stiff and change color from dark green to brown.
The largest in size are cones of American Lambert pines - 50 centimeters long, Coulter - reach 40 centimeters, as well as Cilician fir, growing about 30 centimeters long. The smallest cones, barely reaching 3 centimeters, are possessed by Lyell larch and Japanese pseudotsuga.
In general, the genus of pine trees is characterized by rapid development and growth. The exceptions are those species that have to survive in difficult climatic conditions: high in the mountains, in swamps, on stony rocky soil, in the North. In these cases, mighty trees degenerate into stunted and dwarf species. However, they are of great interest for decorating landscape plantings.