Pinus pinea: Uses (Ethnobotany)
The resin of this pine is used for varnishes, furniture wax and as an antiseptic and for kidney and bladder problems. A green dye can be made from the needles. The pine nuts are edible.
Plant Profile: Pinus pinea
Taxonomy: Pinus pineaNames
Italian Stone Pine, Parasol Pine, Roman Pine, Stone Pine, Umbrella Pine
Phonetic Spelling:PY-nus PY-nee-uh
Genus:Pinus
Species:pinea
Family:Pinaceae
The umbrella pine features a solitary trunk topped with branches that extend outward, resembling an umbrella. This tree thrives in the coastal dunes and lower hills of the Mediterranean region. It flourishes best in full sunlight and prefers sandy to loamy soil with a slightly acidic pH. The seeds, which are edible, are released from the cones when they heat up. Established trees are resilient against deer browsing and drought conditions. In certain regions, this tree is also utilized as a Christmas tree.
Regarding pests and diseases, the umbrella pine can be affected by pine needle scale, sawflies, borers, and moths. Additionally, it may experience issues from fungal infections such as Diplodia pinea and Mycosphaerella pini, as well as red band needle blight.
Tags
#evergreen
#drought tolerant
#wildlife plant
#moths
#fragrant leaves
#low maintenance
#winter interest
#playground
#flower arrangements
#dye plant
#nighttime garden
#non-flowering
#Mediterranean
#glossy
#edible seeds
#dried seedhead
#larval host plant
#evergreen tree
#umbrella
#moth larvae
#pollinator garden
#imperial moth
Similar Plants
Pinus pinea Feature Summary
Attributes
The resin of this pine is used for varnishes, furniture wax and as an antiseptic and for kidney and bladder problems. A green dye can be made from the needles. The pine nuts are edible.
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.
The seeds are highly edible and sold in the market as 'pine nuts'. They can be eaten raw or roasted.
Woody
Seed
Grafting
Edible fruit
Textural
Fruit
It does not have fruits, produces cones with cream-colored egg-shaped edible seeds. Dried cones are used in flower arrangments.
Flowers
Non-flowering
Leaves
Needles are in groups of 2 and are covered with a dull gray wax coating when young but become dark green and glossy when older.
Needled Evergreen
Green
Gray/Silver
Glossy
Fragrant
Bark
Orange to red-brown with gray patches and thick scaly irregular fissures
Dark Gray
Dark Brown
Orange
Red/Burgundy
Fissured
Patchy
Irregular
Whole Plant Traits
Edible
Tree
Needled Evergreen
Erect
Low
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Acid (<6.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Loam (Silt)
Stem
Landscape
Edible Garden
Pollinator Garden
Winter Garden
Nighttime Garden
Drought
Deer
Coastal
Pollinators
Moths
Pinus pinea Image Gallery
Pinus pinea Attributes
Pinus pinea: Country Or Region Of Origin
Europe
Pinus pinea: 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 pinea: Edibility
The seeds are highly edible and sold in the market as 'pine nuts'. They can be eaten raw or roasted.
Pinus pinea: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Pinus pinea: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Pinus pinea: 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 pinea Fruit
Pinus pinea: Fruit Description
It does not have fruits, produces cones with cream-colored egg-shaped edible seeds. Dried cones are used in flower arrangments.
Pinus pinea Flowers
Pinus pinea: Flower Description
Non-flowering
Pinus pinea Leaves
Pinus pinea: Leaf Description
Needles are in groups of 2 and are covered with a dull gray wax coating when young but become dark green and glossy when older.
Pinus pinea: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Pinus pinea: Leaf Color
Gray/Silver
Green
Pinus pinea: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Pinus pinea: Leaf Feel
Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy
Pinus pinea: Leaf Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy
Pinus pinea Bark
Pinus pinea: Bark Description
Orange to red-brown with gray patches and thick scaly irregular fissures
Pinus pinea: Bark Color
Dark Brown
Dark Gray
Orange
Red/Burgundy
Pinus pinea: Surface/Attachment
Bumpy
Exfoliating
Fissured
Furrowed
Lenticels
Papery
Patchy
Peeling
Ridges
Scaly
Shaggy
Shiny
Shredding
Smooth
Spongy
Pinus pinea: Bark Plate Shape
Diamond
Irregular
Oval
Rectangle
Round
Square
Pinus pinea Whole Plant Traits
Pinus pinea: 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 pinea: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Pinus pinea: 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 pinea: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Pinus pinea Cultural Conditions
Pinus pinea: 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 pinea: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Pinus pinea: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Pinus pinea: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Pinus pinea Stem
Pinus pinea: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Pinus pinea Landscape
Pinus pinea: 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 pinea: 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 pinea: 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 pinea: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
