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Home > Pine > Blue Pine

Blue Pine

The blue pine is a conifer found in and around South Asia. It was first described by botanist Nathaniel Wallich of the Kolkata Botanical Gardens after whom the binomial name of this tree is given.

Blue Pine Trees Pictures

Scientific Classification

Kingdom Plantae
Division Pinophyta
Class Pinopsida
Order Pinales
Family Pinaceae
Genus Pinus
Subgenus Strobus
Scientific Name Pinus wallichiana

Blue Pine Bark

Blue Pine Bonsai

Blue Pine Tree

Blue Pine Images

Quick Information

Other Names Bhutan pine, Himalayan pine, Himalayan blue pine, Himalayan white pine, Kail (Hindi), Chilla (Hindi)
Tree type Evergreen
Identification Size: 98-164 ft (30-50 m)

Trunk Diameter: Up to a 3.2 ft (1 m) or more

Needles (Leaves): Arranged in fascicles of 5, about 4.72-7in (12-18 cm) long, flexible, blue-green in color

Bark: Smooth on young trees but become fissured as they age

Cones: Long, slender, yellow-buff at maturity, 6.3-12.6 in (16-32 cm), have thin scales

Seeds: 0.20-0.24 in (5-6 mm) in length with a 0.79-1.18 in (20-30 mm) wing

Distribution From Afghanistan through Pakistan into India continuing to Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan into Myanmar
Habitat Grows at 5,905-14,107 ft (1,800-4,300 m) in a temperate
Hardiness Zones 5-7
Growth Rate Fast
Lifespan Oldest recorded tree is 410 years old
Growing Conditions Summer Conditions: Prefers wet summers
Winter Conditions: Dry winters
Rainfall: 10-80 inches of mean annual rainfall
Light: Full sun
Soil: Well-drained, moist clay or loamy
Diseases & Pests Cones and seeds susceptible to Dioryctria abietella, bark beetles, Bliston regalis, brown-needle disease and Dothistroma needle blight
Reproduction system Monoecious
Propagation By seeds
Seedling Development Seeds easily germinate and grow
Wildlife Value Many birds nest in this tree
Uses Wood used as firewood but gives off a pungent smoke, it is also a source of tar and turpentine, the latter being a vermifuge, diuretic, antiseptic, and rubefacient, which are medicinal qualities; used as an ornamental tree to augment the aesthetics of gardens
IUCN Conservation Status Least Concern

Blue Pine Pictures

Blue Pine

Pinus Wallichiana

Pinus Wallichiana Cone

Interesting Facts

  • The blue pine tree has a high level of resistance to air pollution, being able to withstand it much better than most other coniferous trees.
  • In the US, the blue pine can be grown well in places like Roslindale, MA, Lisle, IL, Cincinnati, OH, Ogden, UT, and Federal Way, WA among others.

References:

  1. http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Himalayan%20Blue%20Pine.html
  2. https://www.conifers.org/pi/Pinus_wallichiana.php
  3. https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Pinus+wallichiana
  4. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/42427/2979371
  5. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=c235
  6. https://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/81216/#b
  7. https://www.greatplantpicks.org/plantlists/view/1209
  8. http://apps.worldagroforestry.org/treedb/AFTPDFS/Pinus_wallichiana.PDF
  9. https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/13150/pinus-wallichiana/details

Published on June 22nd 2017 by Sudipto Chakrabarti under Pine.
Article was last reviewed on 5th December 2022.

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