Pinus pinea: Stone Pine

Introduction

Just as its name implies, umbrella pine has a broad, somewhat flattened round canopy, and the tree will ultimately reach 80 to 100 feet in height though it is more often seen at 35 to 45 feet tall and wide. The bright green, stiff, six-inch-long needles are arranged in slightly twisted bundles, and are joined by the heavy, five to six-inch-long cones which remain tightly closed on the tree for three years. The trunk is showy with narrow, foot-long orange plates set off nicely by darker fissures.

General Information

Scientific name: Pinus pinea

Pronunciation: PIE-nus pie-NEE-uh

Common name(s): Stone pine, Italian stone pine, umbrella pine

Family: Pinaceae

USDA hardiness zones: 7A through 11 (Fig. 2)

Origin: not native to North America

Invasive potential: little invasive potential

Uses: fruit; screen; shade; specimen; parking lot island < 100 sq ft; parking lot island 100-200 sq ft; parking lot island > 200 sq ft; sidewalk cutout (tree pit); tree lawn 3-4 feet wide; tree lawn 4-6 feet wide; tree lawn > 6 ft wide; highway median; bonsai

Availability: somewhat available, may have to go out of the region to find the tree

Description

Height: 35 to 60 feet

Spread: 35 to 45 feet

Crown uniformity: symmetrical

Crown shape: vase, round

Crown density: dense

Growth rate: moderate

Texture: fine

Foliage

Leaf arrangement: alternate (Fig. 3)

Leaf type: simple

Leaf margin: entire

Leaf shape: needle-like (filiform)

Leaf venation: parallel

Leaf type and persistence: needled evergreen, evergreen, fragrant

Leaf blade length: 2 to 4 inches

Leaf color: green

Fall color: no color change

Fall characteristic: not showy

Flower

Flower color: yellow

Flower characteristics: not showy

Fruit

Fruit shape: oval, round, cone

Fruit length: 1 to 3 inches

Fruit covering: dry or hard

Fruit color: brown

Fruit characteristics: does not attract wildlife; showy; fruit/leaves a litter problem

Trunk and Branches

Trunk/bark/branches: branches don't droop; showy; typically one trunk; thorns

Pruning requirement: little required

Breakage: resistant

Current year twig color: brown

Current year twig thickness: thick

Wood specific gravity: unknown

Culture

Light requirement: full sun

Soil tolerances: clay; sand; loam; acidic; slightly alkaline; well-drained

Drought tolerance: high

Aerosol salt tolerance: high

Other

Roots: not a problem

Winter interest: no

Outstanding tree: no

Ozone sensitivity: unknown

Verticillium wilt susceptibility: resistant

Pest resistance: sensitive to pests/diseases

Use and Management

It is the seeds inside the cones which are of particular interest, called pignolia or pine nuts in the stores. The closed cones are gathered, then laid out in the direct sun which forces them to open so the seeds can be harvested. Eaten raw or roasted like peanuts, pignolia nuts are a traditional ingredient of certain Italian dishes. In fact, the tree is native to southwest Europe around the Mediterranean to Greece and Asia Minor, and remains of the cones have been discovered in Roman camps in Britain attesting to their long-time popularity.

Umbrella pine has not been extensively tried as a street tree except in parts on California where it has done well, but has the attributes of an urban tolerant tree. Drought and salt tolerance is high making it suited for areas such as western Texas and Olkahoma. Grows well in soil with a pH in the mid 7's or lower, but may do poorly with higher pH. Umbrella pine should be grown in full sun on well-drained soil. Winter winds and low temperature in USDA hardiness zone 7a cause needles to brown and they remain unsightly all winter.

Propagation is by seed.

Pests

There are a a large number of pests on pine.

Diseases

This tree is usually disease-free.