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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

KingdomPlantae
DivisionPinophyta
ClassPinopsida
OrderPinales
FamilyPinaceae
GenusPinus
SubgenusPinus
Scientific NamePinus thunbergii
Japanese Black Pine Tree

Japanese Black Pine Tree

Thunderhead Japanese Black Pine

Thunderhead Japanese Black Pine

Quick Information

Other NamesJapanese pine (English), Kuromatsu (Japanese)
SizeUp 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
ConesFemale: 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

BarkGray branches in young trees; the trunk and larger branches are black and have fissures, which are quite deep in older trunks
Crown/TopPyramidal shape, irregular, open
Distribution/RangeShikoku, Kyushu, S Hokkaido, Honshu (Japan), coastal areas of South Korea
Hardiness Zones5 to 8
Growth RateMedium; under favorable conditions, may grow 2-3 feet per year
Growing ConditionsWinter 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 PestsBursaphelenchus xylophilus (pinewood nematode), blue stain fungus, brown-spot needle blight; adelgids, bark beetles, pine weevils, sawfly larvae caterpillars
Flowering/FruitingYellow, inconspicuous flowers occurring in spring
Breeding SystemMonoecious
Seedling DevelopmentSeeds germinate easily
Wildlife ValueHabitat for small animals and songbirds
CultivarsSome common varieties including the shrubby, dwarf form Pinus thunbergii ‘Banshosho’ and Pinus thunbergii ‘Thunderhead’ (thunderhead Japanese black pine)
UsesSpecimen 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 StatusLeast 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://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/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 26th June 2023.

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