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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

KingdomPlantae
DivisionPinophyta
ClassPinopsida
OrderPinales
FamilyPinaceae
GenusPinus
SubgenusStrobus
Scientific NamePinus wallichiana

Blue Pine Bark

Blue Pine Bonsai

Blue Pine Tree

Blue Pine Images

Quick Information

Other NamesBhutan pine, Himalayan pine, Himalayan blue pine, Himalayan white pine, Kail (Hindi), Chilla (Hindi)
Tree typeEvergreen
IdentificationSize: 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

DistributionFrom Afghanistan through Pakistan into India continuing to Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan into Myanmar
HabitatGrows at 5,905-14,107 ft (1,800-4,300 m) in a temperate
Hardiness Zones5-7
Growth RateFast
LifespanOldest recorded tree is 410 years old
Growing ConditionsSummer 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 & PestsCones and seeds susceptible to Dioryctria abietella, bark beetles, Bliston regalis, brown-needle disease and Dothistroma needle blight
Reproduction systemMonoecious
PropagationBy seeds
Seedling DevelopmentSeeds easily germinate and grow
Wildlife ValueMany birds nest in this tree
UsesWood 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 StatusLeast 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. https://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 26th June 2023.

One response to “Blue Pine”

  1. Clayton E. Benignus says:
    March 26, 2024 at 2:33 pm

    Why is it called a BLUE Pine instead of White, Yellow, Black, or Red? What distinguishes it as BLUE????

    Reply

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