PINE SWISS STONE

Swiss stone pine or Arolla pine is native to mountain areas in central Europe from the Alps to the Carpathians. It is a slow-growing, medium-sized pine with a narrow pyramidal shape in its youth, gradually becoming rounded and more open as it matures. It typically grows 30-40’ tall in cultivation, but will grow to 100’ tall in the wild in its native habitat. Soft, dark green needles (2-5” long) appear in bundles of five. Short-stalked, oblong cones (to 2.5” long) are greenish purple when young, maturing to purplish-brown. Cones never open. Cone seeds are edible. The pine nuts consumed as food in Europe primarily come from the stone pines, namely, this species and P. pinea (Italian stone pine).

Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates some light shade. Tolerates a wide range of soils, but prefers sandy loams.

Healthy, well-maintained trees usually have few problems. Resistant to blister rust.

Good specimen pine for smaller landscapes.