Image – Wikimedia/Mykola Swarnyk
Is it crazy to have a pine tree in the garden? Well, it depends on the dimensions of the land, and the species of pine that you want to put. And it is that you have to think that the roots of these trees need a lot of space, and not only that, but they have a lot of strength, enough to break pipes or raise the ground.
But for this very reason, pine trees for the garden must be chosen very carefully, because there are many different types, many cultivars, and it is not very difficult to find the most suitable one for us. These are the ones we recommend.
Manchurian pine (Pinus tabuliformis)
Image – Wikimedia/jetsun
The Manchurian pine, or Chinese red pine as it is also known, is an evergreen conifer originating in Mongolia and China. It is a tree with exceptional beauty. Reaches a maximum height of 20 meters and over time it develops a crown which is flat, hence it is sometimes known by the name of table pine.
The leaves are glossy grayish-green and about 17 centimeters long. It is able to withstand frosts down to -20ºC, so you won't have to worry about it in winter.
luchu pine (Pinus luchuensis)
Image – Wikimedia/jetsun
The luchu pine, or Okinawan pine, is an evergreen tree endemic to Japan, where it grows on the coast, a few meters from the sea. Reaches a height of 25 meters, and its leaves are acicular, green.
It is a plant that supports the maritime wind, but also the cold as long as it is not extreme. What's more, you have to know that resists frost down to -5ºC, but if it goes lower it will need protection.
Pinus cembra 'Blue Mound'
Image - Flickr / FD Richards
The cultivar 'Blue Mound' is an evergreen conifer that only grows up to 4 meters tall. In addition, it has a compact, pyramidal shape, which makes it ideal for planting in small or medium-sized gardens. The color of its leaves is bluish-green, but the new ones sprout a much lighter green color.
It is a variety that grows at a medium rate, it is not very fast. You can do it at the rate of four inches per year, give or take. Also, it must be said that withstands frosts down to -23ºC.
Pinus cembra 'Pygmaea'
Image - Flickr / FD Richards
El Pinus cembra pure is a tree that exceeds 20 meters in height and can even reach 25 meters; however, the 'Pygmaea' cultivar is much smaller. In fact, only grows about 50 centimeters tall. And not only that, but it does so at a rate of about 2-3 centimeters per year. It is very slow, but this is also why it is very interesting to put it in a garden, since you can put it wherever you want.
It withstands the cold well, as well as sub-zero temperatures. It's more, resists up to -25ºC.
Pinus mugo 'Corley's Mat'
Image - Flickr / FD Richards
El Pinus mugo 'Corley's Mat' is a small, compact variety. It is an evergreen shrub with a rounded shape, which barely more than half a meter tall. The leaves are green, and are about three inches long at most. It is, therefore, an ideal cultivar to plant in a small garden.
And it is that, as if that were not enough, it resists both frost and snowfall without problems, to the point that can be exposed to a temperature of -25ºC without being damaged.
Pinus strobus Coney Island
Image - Flickr / FD Richards // It is the one that is more in the center of the photo.
El Pinus strobus 'Coney Island' is a cultivar of P. strobus that has a more or less rounded shape, and that reaches a height and width of 1 meter. Its leaves are needle-like, like all those of the pines, and are four inches long. These are green or glaucous green.
It resists very well temperatures up to -25 degrees.
Pinus strobus 'contorted'
Image – Wikimedia/KATHERINE WAGNER-REISS
El Pinus strobus 'Contorta' is a cultivar that is grown mostly in medium to large gardens. It is a fast growing evergreen tree that can reach 12 meters in height. Its leaves are green and are approximately four inches long.
As its crown is wide at the base, it is important that it is planted away from other trees and palms, as well as other plants that need sun, otherwise they will most likely not survive. Regarding its rusticity, you should know that supports up to -20ºC.
Pinus strobus 'Nana'
El Pinus strobus 'Nana' is a cultivar that, at most, reaches a height of 2,20 meters. But for that, at least twenty years have to pass, since it grows at a rather slow rate. Thus, it is a shrub that acquires the shape of a small tree when it matures, and that can be beautiful in a garden.
You also don't have to worry about frost or snowfall. Withstands temperatures down to -25ºC Not being upset.
What do you think of our selection of pine trees for the garden?