5

A nursery in my area happens to sell a rare kind of pine: Pinus pinea (also known as umbrella pine, parasol pine, or stone pine). I a kind of fell in love with this plant: it is a gorgeous kind of pine, well known as a symbol of city of Rome, and also known as a tree that produces "pignoli" - an exotic extremely nutritious seed used as human food, and often served in upscale restaurants. No need to mention its uncanny magnificent look.

So, naturally, I would like to grow it in my climate zone 8a, but I found very conflicting information on the net and elsewhere about its hardiness. Do you have by any chance additional info/experience on that subject?

Just for illustration, a photo with a group of Pinus pineas in the background: (photo credit: Wikiwand)

enter image description here

Also, here is the natural distribution map of Pinus pinea:

enter image description here

VividD
  • 5,870
  • 3
  • 27
  • 74

4 Answers4

5

I think it is possible. You should just find a good place.

Near my home (on the other side of the valley) there is two trees (more than 40 years old). Windy situation and not the best place, but in Zone 8b (European standard, so not very continental climate). It seems just that it is not growing fast, but many conifers are so.

It seems that Kew gardens (London, UK) have various large P. pinea trees.

Pinus genre is usually a very strong: it can lives on most extreme situations (it is one of the most adaptable tree). Just it is slow and so not very competitive, so it growth naturally just were other trees give up.

Giacomo Catenazzi
  • 14,822
  • 3
  • 21
  • 44
4

Yes, Pinus pinea will grow in zone 8 (minimum temperature from -6.7°C to -12.1°C or 19.9°F to 10.2°F), as stated in Conifer Cold Hardiness, section 1, chapter 'Frost Resistance and the Distribution of Conifers' by Bannister and Neuner, page 16, because it stands a minimum temperature of -16°C or 3.2°F.

Unfortunately, this tree will not survive in Craiova, zone 6 (not 8a), where you plan to grow it (look for Bucharest), because temperature in January often goes below -16°C or 3.2°F, or at least it did in the last three winters. Even if this temperature won't be reached for a few years in a row, taking in consideration the life span of Pinus pinea we can expect at least one more winter with this low temperature. For reference I provide a link to Climat report where hovering above an acronym will show details to measurements made.

In case you still want to grow Pinus pinea in that location, I recommend that you plant it from seed so that it acclimatises as much as possible, plant it in a sheltered spot near a fence, wall, etc. and protect it during days with exterem temperatures with Christmas lights and textile cover, horticultural fleece or whatever you find convenient.

Alina
  • 5,484
  • 2
  • 19
  • 49
2

capital of Bulgaria (Zone 7a), Despite the fact we are in a valley which lies between 550-750 m altitude, we have healthy specimens up to 750 m in a private gardens. It's true that the foot hills of the mountain has higher minimum temperatures compared to the valley bottom since they are over the inversion sink which is prone to colect overcooled air in high pressure conditions , which is obviously decisive in terms of survive harsher climates. Your country is more affected from the Siberian high, but nevertheless you have to try because it worth ...

George Bachvarov
  • 21
  • 1
1

Inspired by @Giacomo Catenazzi's answer, I searched for specimens of Pinus pinea outside its natural geographic range. Here is a couple of interesting trees that I found: (they are more than 100 years old)

Santa Barbara, California, United States

enter image description here

Bodysgallen Hall Hotel in Llandudno Junction, Wales, United Kingdom

enter image description here

enter image description here

VividD
  • 5,870
  • 3
  • 27
  • 74