Austrian Black Pine

Pinus nigra (PY-nus NY-grah)

Family: Pinaceae Non-native Canopy (>40 ft)

The Austrian Pine is a medium to large-sized evergreen conifer that grows 40 to 60 feet tall and 20 to 40 feet wide. It has a pyramidal habit when young, but as the tree ages, the crown rounds and forms a dome shape. This ornamental tree has stiff dark green needles that occur in bundles of two. The cones are pointed directly out and away from the stem and are oval and brown at maturity. The bark of the tree is dark brown to black, furrowed, and plate-like. The branches are stout and spreading, and the trunk is straight. This tree is native to central and southern Europe and is a member of the Pinaceae or pine family. The genus name, Pinus , is the Latin word for pine. The epithet, nigra , means black and references the bark. The Austrian pine prefers full sun, moist, well-drained soils, and is adaptable to different soil types. It is easy to transplant and tolerates clay soils, urban pollution, salt, and drought once established. The Austrian pine may be used as a specimen, screen, or windbreak. Quick ID Hints: straight trunk, stout branches dark brown to black, furrowed bark needles in bundles of two, stiff, rigid, sharply pointed cones in groups of 2 to 4 and point out away from the stem Insect, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: The Austrian pine is susceptible to Sphaeropsis (Diplodia) tip blight and Dothistroma needle blight. Potential insect pests include aphids, adelgids, bark beetle bore, sawfly larvae caterpillars, sawflies, pine needle miner larvae, pine needle scale, pine spittlebugs, spruce mites, Zimmerman pine moth, and pine wilt nematode. VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I: Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II: Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University More information on Pinus .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 60 attributes.