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Pinus pinea
Also called Italian Stone Pine, Umbrella Pine, Parasol Pine, Pignolia Nut Pine, Mediterranean Stone Pine
Pinus pinea is a species of pine tree, not a genus, grown as an ornamental and for its edible pine nuts. Commonly grown members of the family Pinaceae are cultivated, but this entry describes the Italian stone pine itself: a tall, umbrella-crowned tree that needs full sun and plenty of room.
Pinus pinea, the Italian stone pine or Mediterranean stone pine, is a species of conifer in the family Pinaceae. The tree is a pine native to the Mediterranean region, occurring in Southern Europe and the Levant. The species was introduced into North Africa millennia ago, and is also naturalized in the Canary Islands, South Africa and New South Wales.
Stone pines have been used and cultivated for their edible pine nuts since prehistoric times. They are widespread in horticultural cultivation as ornamental trees, planted in gardens and parks around the world. This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Pinus pinea is a characteristic, yet controversial, species throughout the Mediterranean basin. Its definitive native range is highly debated. Strong evidence suggests its origin is in the Western Mediterranean, particularly the Iberian Peninsula (Portugal and Spain), where the most extensive natural stands are found, and where it reaches its highest altitudes. The presence of Paleolithic and Pleistocene sites containing the remains of Pinus pinea on the South Iberian Peninsula provides strong evidence that the species was once part of the natural forest ecosystem in that region. Furthermore, the presence of pollen dating between 18-22 thousand years ago (end of Pleistocene) in Southern France supports the hypothesis of its native status there.
Rocky Mountains Bristlecone Pine · Arizona Pine · Chinese White Pine · Mexican White Pine · Jack pine · Turkish Pine · Lacebark Pine · Canary Islands Pine · Caribbean pine · Swiss Pine · Mexican Pinyon · Sand Pine
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Pinus pinea by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
