Pinus nigra subsp. laricio (06/01/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Full sun
Flowering period: Late spring
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 40m
Eventual Spread: 25m
Hardiness: 5b – 9a
Family: Pinaceae
Pinus nigra subsp. laricio is a long lived, large evergreen tree with a rounded conical habit, becoming more irregular with age. Its dark green leaves are needle like, appear in pairs, up to 24cm long and 1.8mm broad. Its gray to yellow/ brown bark is fissured and flaking becoming increasingly fissured with age. Its flowers appear in the form of pollen cones. Its fruit are in the form of cones with rounded scales, are up to 10cm long, initially green maturing to a yellow/ buff.
Pinus nigra subsp. laricio Leaf (06/01/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
The species Pinus nigra, commonly known as the European Black Pine, is native to Mediterranean Europe. In its native habitat it grows in forests and scrub. Pinus nigra subsp. laricio is commonly known as the Corsican Pine and is synonymous with Pinus nigra var. maritima and Pinus nigra var. corsicana. This tree has become naturalised in parts of the USA and is considered an invasive species in New Zealand. This tree may be vulnerable to red band needle blight.
The etymological root of the binomial name Pinus is the old classical name for ‘Pine tree’. Nigra is fron the Latin meaning ‘black’.
The landscape architect may find Pinus nigra subsp. laricio useful as a large street tree, due to its moderate tolerance of salt spray and urban pollution. It may also be useful as a parkland tree.
Ecologically, Pinus nigra subsp. laricio seeds are attractive to some species of bird.
The Royal Horticultural Society has given Pinus nigra subsp. laricio their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993.
Pinus nigra subsp. laricio Bark (06/01/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Pinus nigra subsp. laricio prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.
Pinus nigra subsp. laricio requires little maintenance.
