+
+
Pinus cembra

Pinus cembra

Arolla Pine, Swiss Stone Pine, Austrian stone pine

Download PDF

Description

Pinus cembra (Arolla pine/Swiss stone pine) is considered the undisputed queen of the high mountains of the Alps and Carpathians, and mostly growing above 1,200 metres sea level. Pinus cembra grows together with other conifers such as Pinus mugo and Larix decidua, which often reach above the tree line and scattered in the alpine landscape. The Arolla pine was described in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus, Swedish botanist. It is a large, evergreen and densely branched conifer with a pyramidal growth habit and can grow up to 35 metres tall in the wild. In cultivation, however, its height is limited to 18 metres by 10 metres wide. It is a slow-growing but very long-lived tree and predominantly forms a single stem.

The dull green to yellow-green, stiff and upright needles of Pinus cembra stand in bundles of five, grow densely on the shoots and have a nice fragrance during the summer. The inconspicuous flowers of the Arolla pine are fragrant and the male ones are reddish-brown and the female ones violet. The erect cones are globular or ovoid with rounded scales, beautiful purple when young and brown when mature. The seeds are large and are dispersed by birds or the wind and also harvested and sold as pine nuts. The bark is smooth and grey-green on young trees, but later turns light brownish grey and peeling off in smaller scales.

Pinus cembra is suitable for medium and larger gardens and parks and preferably planted in more humid and cool places in the sun, even though it is very hardy and can withstand winters down to -43 degrees. If these conditions are offered, it can also be planted on roofs and in tree boxes. The Arolla pine has many mycorrhizal associations that help it establish and grow faster, even at very rocky, high altitudes. It could be used as a single specimen as a focal point or in smaller groups as an evergreen backdrop tree. The nuts are edible, and its slow growth also makes its wood very valuable and durable.

Types of planting

Tree types

standard trees feathered trees conifers

Use

Location

park in containers roof garden large garden cemetery traffic areas, industrial zones

Pavement

none none

Characteristics

Crown shape

narrow pyramidal narrow pyramidal wide pyramidal wide pyramidal

Crown structure

dense dense

Height

15 - 18 m

Width

6 - 10 m

Winter hardiness zone

3A - 8A

Aspects

Wind

tolerant to wind

Soil

loess sabulous clay peaty heavy clay light clay sand loamy soil all soils

Nutrient level

moderately rich in nutrients rich in nutrients

Soil moisture level

dry moist

Light requirements

sun partial shade

pH range

acidic neutral

Host plant/forage plant

birds owls small mammals

Extreme environments

tolerates air pollution

Get to know Ebben Nurseries

Visit our nurseries with multi-stem trees, climbing trees, trees for avenues and parks characteristic trees and solitary shrubs.

Make an appointment

Place order or further information?

Order this plant? Or would you like further information about Pinus cembra? Make an appointment for a detailed planting recommendation.
Call +31(0) 485 31 20 21 or email one of our advisors directly.
Our planting advisors

Photos

Magnify
high-stem standard tree
Pinus cembra standard tree
high-stem standard tree
Pinus cembra standard tree
feathered feathered
Pinus cembra feathered
feathered feathered
Pinus cembra feathered
feathered feathered
Pinus cembra feathered
feathered feathered
Pinus cembra feathered
feathered feathered
Pinus cembra feathered
feathered feathered
Pinus cembra feathered
feathered feathered
Pinus cembra feathered
feathered feathered
Pinus cembra feathered
flowers flowers
Pinus cembra flowers
leaves leaves
Pinus cembra leaves
leaves leaves
Pinus cembra leaves
leaves leaves
Pinus cembra leaves
leaves leaves
Pinus cembra leaves
fruits fruits
Pinus cembra fruits
fruits fruits
Pinus cembra fruits
fruits fruits
Pinus cembra fruits
fruits fruits
Pinus cembra fruits
fruits fruits
Pinus cembra fruits
fruits fruits
Pinus cembra fruits
fruits fruits
Pinus cembra fruits
fruits fruits
Pinus cembra fruits
fruits fruits
Pinus cembra fruits
fruits fruits
Pinus cembra fruits
bark bark
Pinus cembra bark

Seasonal colours

Pinus cembra seizoenskleur
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Flowers

Flowers

raceme discrete standing scented

Flower colour

red-brown violet

Flowering period

May

Leaves

Leaf colour

yellow-green matt green buds bright green

Leaves

evergreen needles or scales short needles scented

Fruits

Fruit colour

brown violet

Fruits

striking cones

Bark

Bark colour

grey-brown grey-green

Bark

peeling smooth, later on rough

Twigs

Twig colour

yellow-brown cinnamon-brown

Twigs

hairy bare vertical branches

Root system

Root system

deep tap root

For and by green professionals

The TreeEbb is a platform for and by green professionals, in which we collect knowledge and experience from the sector and make this available for users. All the details and photos are free to use for non-commercial purposes. Want to share your tree knowledge? Send photographs and additional information to treeebb@ebben.nl

Contact
Show filters Hide filters
Show comparison
View mood board
×
TreeEbb

TreeEbb

Geographic location
Winter hardiness zone
OK
Coastal area
OK
Use
Location
OK
Pavement
OK
Host plant/forage plant
OK
Planting concepts
OK
Types of planting
Tree types
OK
Multi-stemmed trees
OK
Crown structure
OK
Crown shape
OK
Topiary on stem
OK
Topiary
OK
Height
m
-
m
OK
Width
m
-
m
OK
Aspects
Wind
OK
Soil
OK
Nutrient level
OK
Soil moisture level
OK
Light requirements
OK
PH range
OK
Extreme environments
OK
Stage of succession
OK
Plant characteristics
Flowering period
January
-
December
OK
Flower colour
OK
Leaf colour
OK
Autumn colour
OK
Fruit colour
OK
Bark colour
OK
Special features
OK
Search
English
View mood board
Show comparison
Your selection:
Sluiten

Winter hardiness

A plant's winter hardiness is the coldest area in which it is frost-resistant. This is based on the average annual minimum temperature. Winter hardiness zones are thirteen different frost zones in steps of 5.5 degrees Celsius. This format is an international standard for the hardiness of plants. The zones in which the plant is frost-resistant are always included in the description of trees and other vegetation.

Winter hardiness is a genetic characteristic and is not influenced by the location in which the plant is cultivated. This means that a plant that has been cultivated for many years in winter-hardiness zone 6 but has a winter hardiness of 3 is perfectly suited for replanting in a colder zone. It will thrive there thanks to its genetic characteristics.

When choosing planting for a project, the winter hardiness of the plants is extremely important. By choosing species that match the zone in which the project is being created, it is possible to ensure that plants can withstand the minimum temperature in that area.

Winter hardiness map
EU Organic Products
Planet Proof
MVO-Nederland
ISO-9001
ISO-14001
CO²-presentatieladder
Boomfeestdag
NVTL

FIND OUT MORE

CONTACT

T +31 (0)485 31 20 21
F +31 (0)485 31 38 88
E info@ebben.nl

STEP INTO OUR GREEN WORLD!

Visit our 500-hectare nurseries and see our 1,400-m² roof garden.
Make an appointment

STAY UP TO DATE

Sign up for our newsletter
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR SUBSCRIBING
© 2024  •  Boomkwekerij Ebben B.V.  •  Disclaimer  •  Privacy and cookie statement  •  Terms and conditions  •  Purchase conditions
STAY UP TO DATE
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR SUBSCRIBING
×
Cookie settings

We use cookies when offering electronic services. A cookie is a small, simple file that is sent with the pages of this website and stored on the hard disk of your computer by your browser. This allows us to combine various requests for pages on the website and analyse users’ behaviour, for example. You can indicate which cookies you wish to accept using the settings below. Bear in mind that not accepting cookies will mean that part of the functionality of this website may not be available. You can find more information about the use of data and the various cookies in our privacy and cookie declaration.