Pine, Japanese Red
Pinus densiflora
Pinaceae - Pine

Description

Leaves: Needles in bundles of 2; 3" to 5" long; slender; twisted; bright to dark green; evergreen, remain on tree 3 years.

Twigs/buds: Twigs yellow-green and hairless to slightly downy early on; becoming orangish and hairless over time. Buds reddish-brown; cylindrical, resinous, and large (up to 1/2" in length).

Flowers/fruit: Monoecious. Fruit a woody cone; 1-1/2" to 2" long; dull yellow; remain on tree 2 to 3 years.

Bark: Orange-red when young, peels off in scales; turning grayish near the base when older.

Wood: Tough, strong; used in Korea and Japan for building houses and bridges, for making barrels, and as a fuel; superior to P. thunbergiana; little information available.

General: Native to Japan, Korea, and China. Very cold hardy. Potentially large tree, though slow-growing. Needs average water and soil; shade intolerant.

Landscape Use: Nice large tree. Attractive bark. Irregular and interesting canopy and trunk form. Zones 3-7.

Cultivars: 'Aurea', 'Globosa', 'Heavy Bud', 'Oculus Draconis', 'Pendula', 'Tiny Temple', 'Umbraculifera'.

Characteristics

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