PinNig_info.html

Pinus nigra (Austrian pine): Information.
Identifying characteristics: There are many geographical forms and subspecies of the Austrian pine. Trees usually grow 50 to 60 feet tall but can reach 150 feet in the wild. A densely pyramidal shape is characteristic of young trees, becoming broadly columnar with a dark, heavy appearance and stout, whorled branches at maturity. Lustrous, dark green needles are produced in fascicles of 2, are 3 to 6 inches long and do not break cleanly when bent. The margins are minutely toothed, the tip is a sharp, horny point and the persistent sheath is 0.5 inches long. The shiny, yellowish-brown, egg-shaped cones are 2 to 4 inches long, produced at right angles to the branch. The end of each scale is keeled, with a short, deciduous prickle. Buds are ovoid, sharp-pointed, light brown and are covered with whitish resin. The Austrian pine has very attractive, dark brown to nearly black bark, becoming deeply furrowed into irregular, longitudinal, scaly plates. These scales are deciduous, peeling away to reveal a pale brown coloring. The radiating, lateral branches are yellowish to light brown. Similar species: red pine (P. resinosa) ponderosa pine (P. ponderosa) Ecology: Distribution: Native to Europe from Austria to central Italy, Greece and former Yugoslavia, the Austrian pine was introduced to North America over 200 years ago and has escaped cultivation in some areas. Habitat: The Austrian pine is hardy as far north as southern Ontario and New England. This pine tolerates a variety of soil conditions if kept moist. It survives in heavy clay and in alkaline soils, withstanding city conditions better than most pines. It requires full sun and withstands windswept, salt spray conditions. The Midwest has experienced severe dieback of this pine in recent years. Although some damage is due to Diplodia tip blight, there are probably numerous factors involved. Pine wilt nematodes, transported by a species of beetle, can kill a tree in one season by clogging the vascular system. Austrian pines are very susceptible to Dothistroma needle blight. Uses: Wood: The wood is knotty and not suitable for commercial use, although some reports suggest the contrary. Wildlife: Birds, squirrels and chipmunks eat the seeds; deer, porcupines and rodents feed on the saplings; and the needles can provide evergreen cover and nesting materials for various wildlife species. Horticulture: The Austrian pine is an adaptable species grown extensively as an ornamental in the US. The attractive bark; stout, whorled branches; and picturesque habit make this a good tree for specimen planting alone or in groups, but planting in Iowa is cautioned because of recent deaths of many trees. The Corsican pine (Pinus nigra var. calabrica), from southern Europe, has lighter colored leaves and grows to 150 feet tall. The Cevennes pine (Pinus nigra var. cabennensis), from the Pyrenees, grows to 60 feet tall, has a looser habit and orange-colored branches.

Pinus nigra (Austrian pine): Information.

Identifying characteristics:
There are many geographical forms and subspecies of the Austrian pine. Trees usually grow 50 to 60 feet tall but can reach 150 feet in the wild. A densely pyramidal shape is characteristic of young trees, becoming broadly columnar with a dark, heavy appearance and stout, whorled branches at maturity. Lustrous, dark green needles are produced in fascicles of 2, are 3 to 6 inches long and do not break cleanly when bent. The margins are minutely toothed, the tip is a sharp, horny point and the persistent sheath is 0.5 inches long. The shiny, yellowish-brown, egg-shaped cones are 2 to 4 inches long, produced at right angles to the branch. The end of each scale is keeled, with a short, deciduous prickle. Buds are ovoid, sharp-pointed, light brown and are covered with whitish resin. The Austrian pine has very attractive, dark brown to nearly black bark, becoming deeply furrowed into irregular, longitudinal, scaly plates. These scales are deciduous, peeling away to reveal a pale brown coloring. The radiating, lateral branches are yellowish to light brown.

Similar species:

Ecology:
Distribution: Native to Europe from Austria to central Italy, Greece and former Yugoslavia, the Austrian pine was introduced to North America over 200 years ago and has escaped cultivation in some areas.

Habitat: The Austrian pine is hardy as far north as southern Ontario and New England. This pine tolerates a variety of soil conditions if kept moist. It survives in heavy clay and in alkaline soils, withstanding city conditions better than most pines. It requires full sun and withstands windswept, salt spray conditions. The Midwest has experienced severe dieback of this pine in recent years. Although some damage is due to Diplodia tip blight, there are probably numerous factors involved. Pine wilt nematodes, transported by a species of beetle, can kill a tree in one season by clogging the vascular system. Austrian pines are very susceptible to Dothistroma needle blight.

Uses:
Wood: The wood is knotty and not suitable for commercial use, although some reports suggest the contrary.

Wildlife: Birds, squirrels and chipmunks eat the seeds; deer, porcupines and rodents feed on the saplings; and the needles can provide evergreen cover and nesting materials for various wildlife species.

Horticulture: The Austrian pine is an adaptable species grown extensively as an ornamental in the US. The attractive bark; stout, whorled branches; and picturesque habit make this a good tree for specimen planting alone or in groups, but planting in Iowa is cautioned because of recent deaths of many trees. The Corsican pine (Pinus nigra var. calabrica), from southern Europe, has lighter colored leaves and grows to 150 feet tall. The Cevennes pine (Pinus nigra var. cabennensis), from the Pyrenees, grows to 60 feet tall, has a looser habit and orange-colored branches.