Plant Profile: Pinus cembra

Taxonomy: Pinus cembra

Names

Arolla Pine, Swiss Stone Pine

  • Photo of Pinus cembra (Pinus cembras)

Phonetic Spelling:PY-nus SIM-bruh

Genus:Pinus

Species:cembra

Family:Pinaceae

The Swiss Stone Pine is a stunning addition to any landscape, characterized by its tall, narrow, and column-like shape. Its needles can last between three to five years, contributing to the tree's lush appearance. While it starts with a pyramidal shape in its youth, it gradually matures into a more rounded form with an open structure and a flattened crown. This species thrives in cooler climates and struggles in the heat and humidity typical of southern regions.

For optimal growth, plant it in an area with ample air circulation, and it adapts well to transplanting.

This tree is generally resistant to a variety of pests and diseases. However, it may be susceptible to certain pests such as caterpillars, borers, bark beetles, miners, scale insects, mealybugs, and sawflies. Additionally, it can face diseases like blights, rots, cankers, and rusts.

Pinus cembra Feature Summary

Pinus cembra Image Gallery

Tags

#evergreen
#specimen
#wildlife plant
#moths
#conifer
#salt spray tolerant
#transplant
#deer resistant
#nighttime garden
#picturesque
#acidic soil tolerant
#alkaline soil tolerant
#edible garden
#larval host plant
#dry soils tolerant
#moth larvae
#pollinator garden
#imperial moth

Similar Plants

Pinus cembra Feature Summary

Attributes
This plant supports Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed. Seeds are eaten by small mammals.
Cone seeds are edible.
Flowers
Non-flowering. 2 to 3 in. terminal cones, greenish-violet turning purplish-brown. Never open
Purple/Lavender
Brown/Copper
Green
1-3 inches
Leaves
2 to 3 in. soft, stiff, straight needles in bundles of 5, blue-green with 5 bluish-white lines
Green
White
Blue
Needles
1-3 inches
Bark
Bark darkens, becoming scaly and fissured with maturity
Dark Gray
Dark Brown
Stem
Mature branches are dark with scaly plates. New stems are covered with orange-brown hairs.
Whole Plant Traits
Columnar
Pyramidal
Dense
Open
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Good Drainage
Mountains
Piedmont
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Pollinator Garden
Winter Garden
Nighttime Garden
Border
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Shade Tree
Accent
Screen/Privacy
Specimen
Barrier
Walkways
Recreational Play Area
Woodland
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Pollinators
Moths

Pinus cembra Attributes

Pinus cembra: Country Or Region Of Origin

Central Europe

Pinus cembra: Wildlife Value

This plant supports Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed. Seeds are eaten by small mammals.

Pinus cembra: Edibility

Cone seeds are edible.

Pinus cembra: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Pinus cembra: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Pinus cembra Flowers

Pinus cembra: Flower Description

Non-flowering. 2 to 3 in. terminal cones, greenish-violet turning purplish-brown. Never open

Pinus cembra: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Brown/Copper
filter_vintage
Green
filter_vintage
Purple/Lavender

Pinus cembra: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Pinus cembra Leaves

Pinus cembra: Leaf Description

2 to 3 in. soft, stiff, straight needles in bundles of 5, blue-green with 5 bluish-white lines

Pinus cembra: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Pinus cembra: Leaf Color

spa
Blue
spa
Green
spa
White

Pinus cembra: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Pinus cembra: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Pinus cembra: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Pinus cembra: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Pinus cembra: Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Pinus cembra: Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Pinus cembra Bark

Pinus cembra: Bark Description

Bark darkens, becoming scaly and fissured with maturity

Pinus cembra: Bark Color

grass
Dark Brown
grass
Dark Gray

Pinus cembra Stem

Pinus cembra: Stem Description

Mature branches are dark with scaly plates. New stems are covered with orange-brown hairs.

Pinus cembra: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Pinus cembra Whole Plant Traits

Pinus cembra: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Pinus cembra: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Pinus cembra: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Pinus cembra: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Pinus cembra: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Pinus cembra Cultural Conditions

Pinus cembra: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Pinus cembra: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Pinus cembra: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Pinus cembra: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Pinus cembra: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
4a
thermostat
4b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b

Pinus cembra: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Pinus cembra Landscape

Pinus cembra: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Pinus cembra: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Pinus cembra: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Pinus cembra: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Pinus cembra: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees