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.

Scientific Classification

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

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

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.

References

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinus_thunbergii
2. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=b438
3. http://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_pith2.pdf
4. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/st480
5. http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/42423/0