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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

Scientific Classification

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

Scottish Pine

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

Scotch Pine Leaf

Pinus Sylvestris

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.