Dwarf Mountain Pine

DWARF MOUNTAIN PINE

Dwarf mountain pine is an approximately 2 m tall coniferous shrub. The trunks are often prostrate and twisted. Its root system is extensive but shallow. It is an undemanding plant in terms of nutrients. It has scaly bark of grey-brown to black-grey colour. Needles with dark green colour grow in pairs, up to 6 cm in length and fall after 4-10 years. Buds are ovate, cones sessile and symmetrical. Male flowers are coloured yellow to orange and female flowers red to purple.

It flowers from May to July.

Occurrence

Its habitat is typically mountainous rocky slopes, lower elevations on rocks and screes. As it is undemanding regarding soil, it tolerates alkaline, acidic, dry, moist, shallow and deep sites, most commonly light ones.

Uses

An ornamental tree that is planted in gardens and parks. Turpentine used to be produced from it. Its wood is very hard and heavy.

It belongs to the pine family.