Arolla Pine Data Sheet

• Common name: Arolla pine

• Latin name: Pinus Cembra

• Genus: Pinus

• Height: 35 m (115 ft)

• Type: Evergreen

• Hardiness: Zone 4

• Conservation status: Least concern

Pinus cembra, commonly known as the Arolla pine or Swiss stone pine, is a conifer native to the mountains of central Europe. Its range extends across Poland, Switzerland, France, Italy, Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Slovakia, Ukraine and Romania.

This tree is generally found at medium altitudes, mostly from 1,200 m (3,900 ft) to 2,300 m (7,500 ft).

Arolla pine is a small to medium-sized tree, up to 35 m (115 ft) tall, with a trunk diameter up to 1.5 m (4.9ft). The bark is covered in orange-brown hairs when young, and matures to a dark brown. The twisted needles are in bundles of five, 5–9 cm long and blue-green to light green. The cones are ovoid, 4–8 cm long and violet-brown when ripe.

It can live up to 1,000 years.

The Arolla pine is closely related to the Siberian pine, which shares many of its characteristics.

The seeds are large, edible, and tasty. They are sold as pine nuts.

The timber is of excellent quality and valued for carving and furniture making. It has an aromatic smell which makes it a popular choice for making beds. The cones can be sliced and used to flavor Schnapps.

It is often used in bonsai.

This tree grows very slowly, which you can use to your advantage if you want a compact tree. It may take 30 years for it to reach 1.5 m. It is very tolerant of severe cold and wind.

Pre Germination

These seeds need no pretreatment or stratification before sowing. Fill trays or pots with quality compost and firm down gently. Spread seeds across the surface; around 25 in a 10 cm pot is ideal. Cover with 3 mm of compost and gently firm down.

Compost should be kept damp, not soaking wet or dried out. Place pots or trays on a warm windowsill or in a warm conservatory. Germination should occur at 1–3 weeks.

Post Germination

Keep seedlings in a bright, well-ventilated area to reduce the risk of damping off disease; a windowsill is ideal. Ensure they don't dry out or become waterlogged. These seedlings are large, Jurassic-looking beasts and very sturdy. They can be separated into 4" pots at 15–20 weeks; by this stage they are frost hardy and can stay outside all year. Fertilization is not required up to this point. During spring and summer we advise using an NPK 10-10-10 fertilizer every 4 weeks.

CAUTION: Slugs and snails love juicy young pines and spruces. Mice have been known to take these seeds without asking!

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