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Home > Pine > Japanese Black Pine

Japanese Black Pine

Japanese black pine, with its spreading and swaying branches, is a species of evergreen, coniferous trees native to the coastal and mountainous regions of South Korea and Japan. Being adaptable to a variety of soil conditions, these conifers are commonly used for seaside plantings and beach landscaping.

Japanese Black Pine

Japanese Black Pine

Scientific Classification

Kingdom Plantae
Division Pinophyta
Class Pinopsida
Order Pinales
Family Pinaceae
Genus Pinus
Subgenus Pinus
Scientific Name Pinus thunbergii
Japanese Black Pine Tree

Japanese Black Pine Tree

Thunderhead Japanese Black Pine

Thunderhead Japanese Black Pine

Quick Information

Other Names Japanese pine (English), Kuromatsu (Japanese)
Size Up to 40 m (131 ft) tall in its native range, less than 8 m (25 ft) in beach plantings
Leaves (Needles) Stiff, pointed, 7-12 cm long, bright-green, occur in bundles of two, grayish-white covering at the base
Cones Female: 4-7 cm long, fringed scales at the extremity with small points, mature after two years

Male: 1-2 cm long, occur in clusters of 12-20

Bark Gray branches in young trees; the trunk and larger branches are black and have fissures, which are quite deep in older trunks
Crown/Top Pyramidal shape, irregular, open
Distribution/Range Shikoku, Kyushu, S Hokkaido, Honshu (Japan), coastal areas of South Korea
Hardiness Zones 5 to 8
Growth Rate Medium; under favorable conditions, may grow 2-3 feet per year
Growing Conditions Winter Conditions: Grows well in areas with mild winters

Summer Conditions: Warm and humid; average temperature of 24°-29° C

Rain: Requires moderate rainfall; average annual precipitation is around 600-1500 mm

Sunlight: Tolerates both partial shade and exposure to full sun

Soil Requirements: Medium moist, well-drained, fertile; tolerates clayey, loamy, sandy, acidic, and alkaline soil; somewhat resistant to drought

Diseases and Pests Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (pinewood nematode), blue stain fungus, brown-spot needle blight; adelgids, bark beetles, pine weevils, sawfly larvae caterpillars
Flowering/Fruiting Yellow, inconspicuous flowers occurring in spring
Breeding System Monoecious
Seedling Development Seeds germinate easily
Wildlife Value Habitat for small animals and songbirds
Cultivars Some common varieties including the shrubby, dwarf form Pinus thunbergii ‘Banshosho’ and Pinus thunbergii ‘Thunderhead’ (thunderhead Japanese black pine)
Uses Specimen pine in horticulture since it is tolerant to salt and pollution; shaped, pruned, and styled as bonsai and Niwaki trees; the wood is used for railway sleepers, poles, general construction, flooring, fences, crates, pallets, and wood pulp
IUCN Conservation Status Least Concern
Dwarf Japanese Black Pine

Dwarf Japanese Black Pine

Japanese Black Pine Bonsai

Japanese Black Pine Bonsai

Interesting Facts

  • The scientific epithet of this species of pine tree is named after the 18th-century Swedish physician Carl Peter Thunberg.
  • These pines are quite a hardy tree, having the ability to withstand pruning.
  • In Korea, the needles are sometimes used in making soft drinks and pastries.
Japanese Black Pines

Japanese Black Pines

Japanese Black Pine Thunderhead

Japanese Black Pine Thunderhead

References

  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinus_thunbergii
  2. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=b438
  3. https://adminplants.sc.egov.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_pith2.pdf
  4. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/st480
  5. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/42423/2979140

Published on June 13th 2016 by admin under Pine.
Article was last reviewed on 5th December 2022.

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