Pinus thunbergii
Japanese Black Pine

Family:

Pinaceae (Pine Family) 74

Genus:

Pinus (Pine) 28

Plant Type:

Tree 569

Growth Forms:

Spreading / Branched 95

Hardiness:

USDA Zone 6 39

Deciduous / Evergreen:

Evergreen 262

Foliage Notes:

Green (Handsome, dark green evergreen foliage)

Fruit Notes:

Brown (Cone)

Ultimate Height:

20-80 feet

Ultimate Spread:

20-40 feet

Light Requirements:

Soil Notes:

Prefers moist, well-drained soils, but is salt and drought tolerant, allowing it to grow in sandy coastal locations

Range:

Japan and Korea

Diagnostic Characteristics:

Stiff, dark green needles (2.5-4.5" long) in 2s, twisted, and with stomatic lines present on each surface. Leaf sheaths 0.5" long with 2 long, stringy segments at the end. Very distinct terminal buds (0.5-0.75" long) are gray or silver-white and non-resinous. Cones are 1.5-3" long by 1.25-1.75" wide and glossy. Bark on mature trees is black to gray and fissured.

Purdue Plant Doctor

Parts and Problems of Mugo Pine

Special Characteristics:

Additional Information

The Japanese Black Pine develops a picturesque, open, and irregular form with age (excellent for bonsai), but pruning can be used to develop denser branching, if desired. This species is very tolerant of salt spray and is especially useful for coastal plantings. Pinus thunbergii is quite susceptible to Pine Wilt Disease from the Pine Wood Nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus), which is vectored by the Pine Sawyer Beetle. Tends to have a shorter life span when grown in the United States.