Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris)
Identifying Features
Plant Family: Pinaceae
Native Range: Asia, Europe
Leaf: evergreen, needles in bundles of two, needles stiff and twisted, blue-green color
Twig and Bud: twig green becoming gray brown, buds cylindrical with dull point and red-brown lance-shaped scales
Flower, Fruit and Seed: seed cones in groups of 1-3, oval or cone shaped, gray or brown at maturity
Bark: gray to orange-brown lower on the tree with irregular scaly plates, bark orange and thin higher up on the tree
Shape and Mature Height: single trunk with broad, irregular crown, 30-90 feet
Garden Value and Considerations
Grows best in full sun and well-drained, moist to dry soils. Its unique form, striking bark color, and evergreen foliage make it useful as a specimen tree. Scots pines are variable in their form, needle appearance, and hardiness depending on their native geographical growing region.
Notes
The seeds, as with other pines, are eaten by wildlife including pine grouse, red squirrels and more.
