Japanese Black Pine

Scientific Name: Pinus thunbergii Parl.

Japanese Black Pine

General Information
Usda Symbol	PITH2
Group	Gymnosperm
Life Cycle	Perennial
Growth Habits	Tree
Native Locations	PITH2

Plant Guide

Use a soil moisture meter to monitor the soil moisture where Japanese Black Pine is planted.

Fact Sheet

Alternate Names

Pinus thunbergiana Franco

Uses

Japanese black pine had been among the best species for planting along Northeastern seashores until about 1990. The species has suffered from insects and diseases and has fallen rapidly in esteem.

Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status (e.g. threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

Description

Japanese black pine is an introduced evergreen. In its most favorable habitat, Japanese black pine can reach a height of 100 feet, but in beach plantings, it is usually less than 20 feet tall. Its spreading, loosely swaying branches are orange-yellow in color, and form an irregular silhouette. The blackish-gray bark is furrowed into irregular plates. Its evergreen foliage consists of bright green bundles of 2 stiff, sharp-pointed needles, 3-5 inches long. The large, grayish-white terminal buds are oblong, with fringed scales at the tips. After 4 or 5 years of age, nut-brown colored, short-stalked cones, 2-3 inches long, are produced. Fruiting and seed production are usually prolific. There are 34,000 seeds per pound.

Adaptation and Distribution

Distribution

Distribution

This pine is adaptable and will grow on a wide variety of soils under adverse conditions. Japanese black pine exhibits excellent drought tolerance but poor shade tolerance; it tolerates moderately well-drained soils. This pine is more salt-spray resistant than any of the native pines. Japanese black pine is distributed primarily throughout the eastern United States. For a current distribution map, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

Establishment

Japanese black pine typically grows on medium fertility, slightly acid, loamy to sandy soils, Establishment is by planting bare-root or container-grown plants 2-3 years old, On sand dunes, the use of container-grown plants is recommended, It may be established using bare-root two-year-old seedlings where soil and moisture conditions are good for plant establishment, Use soil moisture sensors to measure the soil moisture of Japanese Black Pine., It is desirable to dig a hole 2-3 times larger than the container, backfill with peat moss, then mix thoroughly with the sand, Place the roots in the hole and backfill around them, Water immediately, Japanese black pine is grown in nurseries from seed, using conventional propagation practices,

Management

Some protection from strong winds the first and second years may improve survival. Average growth is 12-18 inches per year.

Plant Traits

Growth Requirements

Morphology/Physiology

Reproduction

Suitability/Use

Japanese Black Pine

Japanese Black Pine