Tree of the Week: Japanese black pine

 

Japanese black pine -- Pinus thunbergii

The Japanese black pine is a godsend to people who love to shape trees. It will take kindly to most any attempt to make it into something it is not. Native to northeastern China, Korea and Japan, it is named after 18th century Swedish naturalist Carl Peter Thunberg, who spent some time in Japan; sometimes the species name is spelled thunbergiana. Its malleability and adaptability make it a popular landscape tree.

In the Pacific Northwest the tree can grow fast, to 100 feet tall by 40 feet wide. In Southern California it may be a slow to moderate grower, up to 25 by 25 feet. This evergreen charms with its open, irregular to pyramidal growth; spreading, horizontal branches; and often leaning trunk. Contrary to current practice it actually can get by with little or no pruning.

The bark is gray, becoming covered with thick plates when the tree gets older. Needles are dark green, 5 to 7 inches long and borne in groups of two. Stiff upright shoots, called candles, appear at the ends of the branches in spring. Male and female cones occur on the same tree. The female ones develop into little woody pine cones. The roots are not invasive, will take most types of soil, even if happiest in well-drained soil, and are drought tolerant. Unfortunately the tree is subject to attack by the native American pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, which, followed by blue stain fungus, may be lethal. 

The Japanese black pine is resistant to air pollution, high winds and salt spray. Dwarf cultivars are used as classic bonsai subjects. Many cultivars are grown, including some with yellow striped or edged leaves. 

--Pieter Severynen

Thoughts? Comments?

Photo credit: Pieter Severynen

Comments

[Guy]

So have you guys completely divvied up your responsibilities?

Peter Severynen does plants.
Lauren Beale does celebrity houses.
Sharon Berenstein does economic reports.
Peter Hong does how-far-will-this-fall posts.

Meanwhile, this blog has lost unity and cohesion. It just seems like a big hodge-podge, and it doesn't do any one of those things excellently.