• Home
  • Coniferous Animals
  • Coniferous Trees
  • About Us
  • Contact
Home > Pine > Scots Pine

Scots Pine

Scots pines are one of the most extensively distributed conifers in the world, found in large parts of Eurasia. They grow from sea level to a height of 2400 m, the elevation increasing from north to south of its native range.

Scots Pine

Scots Pine

Scientific Classification

Kingdom Plantae
Division Pinophyta
Class Pinopsida
Order Pinales
Family Pinaceae
Genus Pinus
Subgenus Pinus
Scientific Name Pinus sylvestris
Scottish Pine

Scottish Pine

Scots Pine Tree

Scots Pine Tree

Quick Information

Other Names Riga Pine, Mongolian pine, Scotch pine
Size Height: 35 m
Trunk Diameter: 1m
Tallest recorded specimen measures 46.6 m
Identification

Leaves (Needles): Glaucous blue-green on mature trees, dark green to dark yellow-green in winter, 2.5–5 cm long and 1-2 mm broad, occur in bundles with a gray basal sheath

Seed Cones: Red during pollination, turning gray-green to yellow-brown at maturity, 3-7.5 cm long

Pollen Cones: Yellow, sometimes pink, 8–12 mm long; pollens are released during middle-late spring

Bark: Thick, scaly, dark gray-brown on the lower trunk while on the upper trunk it is thin, flaky and orange

Tree Type Evergreen
Shape at Maturity Oval, pyramidal
Distribution/Range Western and Northern Europe, eastern Siberia, Anatolia
Hardiness Zones 3–7
Growth Rate Slow to medium, yearly increase being 12 to 24 in
Lifespan Generally 150 to 300 years; oldest recorded specimen is more than 760 years
Growing Conditions Soil Requirement: Acidic, loamy, sandy, moist, well-drained and dry soils

Light Requirement: Direct sunlight

Temperature: Tolerates high temperatures

Water Requirement: Tolerant to drought

Diseases Host to pine wilt caused by the pinewood nematode, vulnerable to fungal diseases like  Lophodermium and Diplodia Tip Blight
Flowering May-June
Dispersal of Seeds Seeds are mainly dispersed by wind
Seedling Development Adequate moisture and some shade helps in seedlings establishment; seedlings grow very fast in their early years
Wildlife value Insects and lichens thrive in and around the cracks of the trunk; branches are good nesting sites for birds like golden eagle, goshawk, osprey; cones and seeds are a favorite for red squirrels
Uses Good source of timber, construction lumber, pulpwood; extensively used as Christmas trees; popular as a bonsai
IUCN Conservation Status Least Concern
Scots Pine Pictures

Scots Pine Pictures

Scotch Pine Leaf

Scotch Pine Leaf

Pinus Sylvestris

Pinus Sylvestris

Scots Pine Christmas Tree

Scots Pine Christmas Tree

Interesting Facts

  • Scots pine is Scotland’s national tree.
  • The species was one of the first trees to colonize Ireland after the melting of ice sheets of the last glaciations around 12000 years ago. The tree, in spite of being initially abundant, disappeared from the country until the 17th century when it was reintroduced from Scotland through planting.
Scots Pine Needles

Scots Pine Needles

Scots Pine Cone

Scots Pine Cone

Scots Pine Bonsai

Scots Pine Bonsai

Scots Pine Bark

Scots Pine Bark

References

  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scots_pine
  2. https://www.arborday.org/trees/treeguide/TreeDetail.cfm?ItemID=902
  3. https://www.waldwissen.net/en/forest-ecology/forest-plants/conifers/the-scots-pine
  4. https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/tree-plant-care/plant-care-resources/pine-diseases/
  5. https://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/2007/mar/070901.htm

Published on November 16th 2016 by Sajal Datta under Pine.
Article was last reviewed on 5th December 2022.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    • Recent Posts

      • Cedar Tree of Lebanon
      • Eastern Red Cedar
      • Black-backed Woodpecker
      • Eastern Gray Squirrel
      • Bohemian Waxwing
      • Norway Spruce
      • Douglas Squirrel
      • Northern Goshawk
      • Bighorn Sheep
      • Eastern Milk Snake
      • Ovenbird
      • California Redwood
      • Western Terrestrial Garter Snake
      • Foxtail Pine
      • Snow Goose
    • Categories

      • Coniferous Forest Animals
      • Coniferous Forest Plants and Trees
        • Cedar
        • Cypress
        • Fir
        • Hemlock
        • Juniper
        • Larch
        • Pine
        • Spruce
        • Yew

© 2023 (Coniferous Forest). All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.