Stone pine (Pinus pinea)

The stone pine is a tree that we find throughout the Mediterranean. It is often used as an ornamental plant in parks, gardens and even as part of urban trees. Like the Aleppo pine or propagating through a pine forest (Pinus halepensis)., it is one of the few of the genus that can grow on beaches, a short distance from the sea, so it is an interesting species when it lives near the coast, where the soil is poor in nutrients and has a significant concentration of salt.

In addition, it is not a demanding species, but It should not lack direct sunlight throughout the day (or most of the day), and a lot of space, because we must not forget that the roots of pine trees are very long and strong, capable of breaking pipes and floors.

How are stone pines?

The stone pine or Pinea pine is an evergreen conifer that grows between 10 and 15 meters, being able to reach 50 meters on rare occasions. From a young age he develops a rounded crown, which widens into the shape of an umbrella with age. The leaves are acicular, green, and about 15-20 centimeters long.

If we talk about pineapples, they are oval in shape and about 12 centimeters long. The pine nuts, that is, their seeds, measure 1 centimeter, and are fleshy. It is important to say that they take a long time to mature; in fact, they are not picked from the tree until the fall and even winter months.

Where do they grow?

It is a conifer native to both southern Europe and Western Asia. It is one of the species that form the typical Mediterranean forest, although in some areas it is also found on the beaches, as in the Balearic Islands, sharing habitat with the Aleppo pine.

It is, therefore, a conifer capable of resisting the summer drought, the high temperatures typical of these areas, and the lack of nutrients in the soil. But it is not the most cold-resistant pine; What's more: moderate frosts can damage it, and it is highly recommended to protect it if it drops below -10ºC.

What uses does it have?

It is a plant with multiple uses:

• urban tree
• Ornamental plant in gardens
• Pine nuts are used in confectionery
• The wood is used in carpentry

what does he need Pinea pine?

The stone pine does not need much to be well: if it is in a sunny place, it receives water from time to time, and it can grow in a place where there are no other trees nearby, it will surely live for many years. In fact, the life expectancy of this tree is around 300 years.

So if you want your family to enjoy it for a few generations, here is a care guide What we recommend you give:

Location

We are talking about a large plant that also needs to be exposed to direct sunlight, so it is important to have it abroad. Likewise, the ideal will be to plant it in the soil of the garden as soon as possible, since it is not a tree that can be kept in a pot for many years (unless it is pruned in order to keep it as a small tree or as a bonsai).

And since its roots are long and very strong, it must be placed far away -at least ten meters- from the pool, other trees, paved floors, and anything else that might break, like pipes.

Earth

• In the garden, will grow without difficulty in practically any type of soil. Now, if it is a very compact soil, which hardens and compacts during long periods of drought, we recommend digging a hole 1 meter deep and mixing it with perlite in equal parts.
• Potted, it will be preferable to put a universal substrate (on sale here), or one for green plants such as this.

Irrigation

It withstands drought very well, but only if it is planted in the ground and has been there for 1-2 years. Otherwise, you have to water it 1 or 2 times a week, depending on the climate: the warmer and drier, the more watering will be necessary.

Every time it plays, we will pour the water on the ground, trying to make it soaked.

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It should only be paid if it is in a pot, since as the amount of land is limited, so are the nutrients. For this reason, we recommend fertilizing it during the spring and summer, and for this you can use liquid or granulated fertilizers or fertilizers.

In order to get good results, it is important to read the instructions for use and follow them, otherwise you could overdose.

Multiplication

El Pinea pine multiplies by seeds (the pine nuts). These can be sown in autumn or spring in pots for example. It can also be done in trays of forest seedlings or peat tablets (Jiffy) about 3-4 centimeters.

As a substrate, it will serve universal cultivation land, although it will also be worth a specific one for seedbeds. But in any case, you have to bury them no more than 1 centimeter, and try not to pile them up.

If they are fresh, they will germinate in 1 or 2 months.

Rusticity

Supports up to -12ºC, but prefers warm climates, with milder frosts.

The stone pine is a very pretty plant, don't you think?