Pinus parviflora 'Glauca'
Japanese White Pine

Description

General: Native to Japan, Pinus parviflora is a slow growing evergreen that develops in a conical manner, with wide spreading branches. It will slowly grow to 25-50' tall with age.

Leaves: Bluish green needles in fascicles of 5 with white stomatal bands down one edge, almost giving it a variegated look. Needles will grow in tufts at the end of each year's new growth. Needles will also be fairly twisted on some cultivars.

Flowers: Inconspicuous

Fruit: 1-4 in cones that can remain on trees for 6-7 years until opening up when ripe. Will produce many cones even in juvenile stages, which can weigh the branches down.

Bark: Smooth gray bark for most of its life. Begins to get platy in older age.

Culture

Growing Conditions: Prefers full sun, good drainage and is reported to be salt tolerant.

Maintenance: Low maintenance except to prune to desired shape.

Transplanting: May be moved all season, avoid when new growth is occurring.

Hardiness
Zones 4-7. We can report of no problems at Great Hill.

Experience at Great Hill
We have had wonderful success with the 'Glauca' cultivar. Just recently we have begun growing 'Gimborn's Ideal' and 'Tani Mano Uki', subsequently we can see how these selections grow compared with the 'Glauca' cultivar. We have also had some success grafting cuttings from the 'Glauca' cultivar.

Attributes
Slow growing upright tree that can be planted in small quarters and can be easily controlled to not outgrow it's setting. Has a beautiful bluish-green color and can make a prefect character or accent plant if pruned in an artistic manner. Also a good tree for coastal locations due to its salt tolerance.