Plant Profile: Pinus nigra

Taxonomy: Pinus nigra

Names

Austrian Pine

  • Photo of Pinus nigra (Pinus nigras)

Phonetic Spelling:PY-nus NY-gruh

Genus:Pinus

Species:nigra

Family:Pinaceae

This plant, with its charming aged appearance, is well-suited to urban environments. In its youth, it exhibits a densely conical or pyramidal shape. As it matures, it transforms into a broad, flat-topped tree characterized by a short trunk and low, spreading branches, culminating in a semi-rounded crown. Its robust, spreading form and stiff, dark green needles create an appealing specimen as it grows older.

The term 'niger' translates to 'black,' which pertains to its dark bark.

It is relatively easy to transplant.

However, it is vulnerable to Sphaeropsis tip blight and Dothistroma needle blight, as well as issues with pine moth and pine wilt.

Pinus nigra Feature Summary

Pinus nigra Image Gallery

Tags

#evergreen
#wildlife plant
#moths
#playground
#nighttime garden
#children's garden
#screening
#larval host plant
#wind break
#moth larvae
#pollinator garden
#imperial moth

Similar Plants

Pinus nigra is often confused with:

Pinus nigra Feature Summary

Attributes
Mediterranean , Eastern Austria to Northern Caucasus
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.
Perennial
Woody
Wind Break
Screening
Fruit
Flowers
Leaves
Stiff needles in pairs, sharp to the touch.
Green
Black
3-6 inches
Bark
Scaly-plated, gray-brown to pinkish in color. Bark Texture: Furrowed
Dark Gray
Dark Brown
Whole Plant Traits
Erect
Mounding
Pyramidal
Dense
Spreading
Horizontal
Broad
Coarse
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Dry
Mountains
Piedmont
Landscape
Pollinator Garden
Children's Garden
Nighttime Garden
Border
Mass Planting
Accent
Screen/Privacy
Specimen
Barrier
Recreational Play Area
Woodland
Lawn
Meadow
Pollinators
Moths

Pinus nigra Attributes

Pinus nigra: Country Or Region Of Origin

Mediterranean , Eastern Austria to Northern Caucasus

Pinus nigra: 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.

Pinus nigra: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Pinus nigra: Play Value

Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer

Pinus nigra Fruit

Pinus nigra: Fruit Description

Fruit Type: Cone

Pinus nigra: Fruit Color

grass
Brown/Copper

Pinus nigra: Display/Harvest Time

Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter

Pinus nigra Flowers

Pinus nigra: Flower Description

2"-3" cones

Pinus nigra: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Insignificant

Pinus nigra: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Pinus nigra Leaves

Pinus nigra: Leaf Description

Stiff needles in pairs, sharp to the touch.

Pinus nigra: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Pinus nigra: Leaf Color

spa
Black
spa
Green

Pinus nigra: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Pinus nigra: Leaf Length

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

Pinus nigra Bark

Pinus nigra: Bark Description

Scaly-plated, gray-brown to pinkish in color. Bark Texture: Furrowed

Pinus nigra: Bark Color

grass
Dark Brown
grass
Dark Gray

Pinus nigra Whole Plant Traits

Pinus nigra: 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 nigra: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Pinus nigra: 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 nigra: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Pinus nigra: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Pinus nigra: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Pinus nigra Cultural Conditions

Pinus nigra: 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 nigra: Soil Drainage

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

Pinus nigra: 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 nigra: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Pinus nigra: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

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

Pinus nigra: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Pinus nigra Stem

Pinus nigra: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Pinus nigra Landscape

Pinus nigra: 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 nigra: 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 nigra: 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 nigra: 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 nigra: Attracts

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