Scots Pine Data Sheet

• Common name: Scots pine

• Latin name: Pinus Sylvestris

• Genus: Pinus

• Height: 45 m (146 ft)

• Type: Evergreen

• Hardiness: Zone 2–8

• Conservation status: Least concern

Pinus Sylvestris, commonly known as the Scots pine or Scotch pine, is a conifer native to Europe. Its range extends across all of mainland Europe, through Russia, with Siberia being the furthest eastward reach. It reaches deep inside the arctic circle around Scandinavia.

This tree is generally found from sea level to lower range altitudes, 1,000 m (3,300 ft)

The Scots pine is a large evergreen conifer, growing to a height of 45 m (146 ft). The trunk diameter can exceed 1 m. The needles are dark green with some blue colour, set in pairs and 2 inches long. The bark is scaled and grey on mature trees, fading to brown - orange nearer the crown. The cones are 3 inches long and start out green, maturing to brown when ripe. Ripening takes around 2 years. The cone scales have winged seeds tucked inside.

The Scots pine has well over 100 variants, the differences are minimal. This tree lives around 300 years.

Pinus Sylvestris has been used for production of tar and turpentine.

This is a popular, easy to grow species for garden landscaping and is widely used in bonsai.

Pre Germination

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

Keep compost damp, not soaking wet or dried out. Place pots or trays on a warm windowsill or in a warm conservatory. Germination should occur at 2–5 weeks.

Post Germination

Once seedlings appear, keep them in a well-ventilated area to reduce the risk of damping off disease. Place in bright conditions; a windowsill is ideal. Ensure seedlings don't dry out. Water logging should also be avoided; young trees hate wet feet. These seedlings are fairly robust and will give you little hassle. They can be separated into their own 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 spruce.

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