Pine

Pinus species

Trees and Shrubs, Fruits and Vegetables, Bonsai

Soak seed and stratify 6 weeks, then sow, or surface sow in fall, 2" apart, onto light sandy soil, can take several years to germinate. Alternatively, in early December, place seed in moist sterile medium and grow warm 3 months, provide 3 months in coolest part of the fridge, then plant outside. Needs light to germinate

Protect from full sun in early years; most species prefer sandy, well-drained soil, many do well in poor soils. Reproduction by tourniquet air layering in early spring can take up to 2 years. Suited also to side-veneer grafting. Commonly used for bonsai. Zone 2-9

Siberian, Eastern white and Korean pines, or Pinus sibirica, Pinus strobus and Pinus koraiensis respectively, depend on symbiotic fungi to grow, with which soil must be inoculated. If white pines grow in the area, dirt collected from the base of these trees will do fine when mixed into and onto the ground where white or Korean pines are to planted. Inoculant for Siberian pines must be taken from other Siberian pines, or obtained commercially

Jack pine, or Pinus banksiana, Ponderosa pine or Pinus ponderosa, and Scots pine, Pinus sylvestris, as well as many other species, are suitable for drier areas. Latter zone 2-6. Pinus mugo and cultivars are useful ornamental ground covers, especially in exposed sites; hardy zone 3-7