Stone pine

Sun

Full sun; choose a warm, sheltered position near the colder end of its range.

Water

Water regularly while establishing; established trees tolerate drought but dislike waterlogged soil.

Soil

Freely draining sandy, gravelly or loamy soil; tolerates poor fertility and moderately alkaline conditions.

Height

40-65 ft (12-20 m)

Spread

30-50 ft (9-15 m)

Flowers

Spring: yellow pollen cones and small reddish to green female cones; not showy flowers.

Foliage

Evergreen. Stiff, medium-green needles in pairs, usually 4-8 in (10-20 cm) long. Young plants have shorter, softer, blue-green juvenile needles.

Growth

Moderate, faster in warm conditions with adequate moisture.

Care needed

Low

• Deer resistant
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Hard

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   7 ft (2 m)

2. After 1 year

   9 ft (2.9 m)

3. After 2 years

   12 ft (3.8 m)

4. After 3 years

   15 ft (4.6 m)

5. After 5 years

   21 ft (6.4 m)

About 16 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Mildly toxic: may upset a stomach

Growth rate

Fast

• Plant with the root flare at soil level and leave enough room for the mature crown, well away from buildings and overhead wires.
• Water deeply during dry spells for the first two or three growing seasons; let the soil begin to dry between waterings.
• Apply 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch over the root area, keeping it clear of the trunk.
• Avoid routine feeding; use a modest slow-release fertiliser only where poor growth indicates a need.
• Stake only if the root ball moves in wind, and remove supports once the tree is securely rooted.

Pruning. Remove dead, damaged or crossing branches in late winter to early spring, cutting just outside the branch collar. Preserve the main leader, avoid topping or cutting into bare old wood, and use a qualified arborist for large limbs.

Late winter

Inspect the crown and remove small dead or damaged branches before new growth begins.

Spring

Plant in colder districts once the soil is workable; water thoroughly and mulch.

Late spring

Check young shoots for aphids and distorted growth; inspect needles for browning or bands.

Summer

Deep-water young trees during prolonged dry spells rather than giving frequent light sprinklings.

Autumn

Plant in mild-winter districts and collect mature brown cones if growing the tree for nuts.

Winter

Check drainage and loosen any tight tree ties; protect newly planted trees from severe cold, drying winds.

• Use as a specimen tree in a large lawn or gravel garden, where its mature umbrella crown can be seen clearly.
• Combine with olive trees, lavender and rosemary for a Mediterranean planting in suitable climates.
• Set behind a generous terrace to provide high shade as the tree matures; keep seating clear of falling cones.
• Plant in spacious groups on a large property for a grove with open trunks and a broad evergreen canopy.

Garden styles it suits: Mediterranean, Modern Mediterranean, Italian / Tuscan, Tuscan villa, Architectural minimal and Dry gravel garden.

Plant it with: Olive, Lavender, Rosemary, Rockrose, Santolina and Strawberry tree.

Wildlife: The crown offers shelter and nesting places for birds, while squirrels and some birds eat the seeds. Wind-pollinated cones provide no nectar for pollinators.

• Root rot and decline in wet soil: improve drainage before planting and avoid low, waterlogged sites; severely affected trees may need removal.
• Needle blight, including Dothistroma: seek a diagnosis if needles develop bands and die back; avoid overhead watering and remove heavily affected young trees when advised.
• Aphids and scale insects: inspect sticky or sooty foliage, encourage natural predators and use a locally approved treatment only for damaging infestations.
• Pine processionary caterpillars in affected regions: their hairs can seriously injure people and pets; keep clear of nests and caterpillar trails and arrange specialist removal.

Stone pine is not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses. The shelled seeds are edible for people but can cause serious allergic reactions in susceptible individuals. Needles, resin and woody cones are not food: chewing them may cause mouth irritation, stomach upset or a blockage in pets.

Where it spreads. Can self-seed into natural vegetation in parts of South Africa, including the Western Cape, where it has been recorded as invasive. Check local guidance before planting near natural habitats.

• Maritime pine (Pinus pinaster)

  Also has long needles in pairs, but its cones are more elongated and have conspicuously pointed scale tips; stone pine has broad, rounded cones and a more regularly umbrella-shaped mature crown.

• Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis)

  Has finer, generally shorter needles and smaller, elongated cones that often remain on branches for years; its crown is usually more irregular.

• Japanese umbrella pine (Sciadopitys verticillata)

  Has thick, glossy green leaflike structures arranged in conspicuous umbrella-like whorls, rather than true pine needles in pairs.

Pinus is the Latin name for pine, while stone pine refers to the hard shells surrounding its edible seeds.

Propagation. Grow from fresh seed sown in deep pots of freely draining compost. Protect seeds and seedlings from rodents, provide good light, and plant out while young before roots become crowded; seed-grown trees may take well over a decade to produce useful nut crops.

Accepted botanical name

Pinus pinea

In the US and Canada

Introduced in the lower 48 states.

Native range

Albania, Baleares, Corse, Cyprus, East Aegean Is., France, Greece, Italy, Kriti, Lebanon-Syria, Portugal and Sicilia.

Measured

Soil pH 7 to 7.5. Average height 1250 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.