Pinus wallichiana (06/01/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Full sun to light shade
Flowering period: Spring
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 50m
Eventual Spread: 30m
Hardiness: 5a – 9b
Family:Pinaceae
Pinus wallichiana is a large evergreen tree with a broad conical crown. Its green/ blue leaves are needle like, up to 18cm long, drooping an appear in bundles of up to five. Its branches are downward curving. Its trunk may achieve a diameter of up to 1m. Its grey/ brown bark is fissured, scaly and flaking on mature trees. Its yellow/ green flowers are pollen cones. Its pendulous fruit are bandanna shaped cones, initially green, yellow/ buff when mature, slender and up to 25cm long.
Pinus wallichiana, commonly known as the Blue Pine, Bhutan Pine, Himalayan White Pine or Himalayan Blue Pine, is native to the Himalaya mountains. In its native habitat it grows in mixed forests, mountain screes and glacier fore lands.
Pinus wallichiana Leaf (06/01/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
The etymological root of the binomial name Pinus is the old classical name for ‘Pine tree’. Wallichiana is named after Dr Nathaniel Wallich, (1786 – 1854) , a Danish botanist who first introduced this tree into England.
The landscape architect may find Pinus wallichiana useful as an attractive parkland tree. It is tolerant of urban pollution.
Ecologically, Pinus wallichiana seeds are attractive to some birds and mammals.
The Royal Horticultural Society has given Pinus wallichiana their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993.
Pinus wallichiana Bark (06/01/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Pinus wallichiana prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.
Pinus wallichiana requires little maintenance.