Pinus parviflora var. pentaphylla / Japanese white pine

Pinus parviflora var. pentaphylla

(Japanese white pine)

ORIGIN AND SPREAD: China, Korea, Japan

CHARACTERISTICS: very slow growth, green-blue needles, rough, platy, grey bark; produces new spring shoots, called “candles”, in March/April, replaces the old needles in October.

CARE: loves well-ventilated places in full sun, both in Mediterranean and mountain areas; well-drained, neutral pH soil, water stagnation must be avoided; water only when the soil is completely dry; treat once with a slow release fertilizer in spring; provide a preventive anti-fungal treatment in winter as well as a mineral oil insecticide treatment.

PRUNING: pinch off the candles in April (or before they open into needles) to an even length of about 0.5-1cm; in October prune back late shoots which might appear; in October/November it is advised to remove the old yellow needles by hand.

sunny

water sparingly

neutral pH soil

hardy -20°C