Pinus nigra
Common name: 
Austrian Pine
Pronunciation: 
PI-nus NI-gra
Family: 
Pinaceae
Genus: 
Type: 
Conifer
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Conifer, evergreen tree, 50-60(100) ft [15-18(30) m], densely pyramidal when young, becoming a large flat-topped tree with a short, straight trunk and stout spreading branches.  Bark light gray to dark brown, darker than P. ponderosa.  Buds ovate to cylindrical, resinous. Needles in pairs, persist 4-8 years, 8-12 cm long, 1-2 mm wide, stiff, point sharp to touch, bundle sheath 13 mm long, 12-14 stomatal lies on each surface.  Cones grouped 2-4, ovoid, conical, 4-8 cm long, light brown.
  • Sun.  Prefers moist soil with good drainage, but adaptable.
  • Hardy to USDA Zone 4     Pinus nigra has a very discontinuous range, it is found in southern Europe (from the Pyrenees Peninsula to Sicily, Greece and Bulgaria), northwest Africa (Algeria and Morocco) and Asia Minor.  There are several subspecies and varieties.
  • A number of selections are offered, including forms that are
    • upright  -  e.g., ‘Arnond Sentinal’, ‘Obelisk’
    • compact tree form  -   e.g., ‘Compacta’, ‘Oregon Green’
    • shrub/dwarf  -  e.g.,‘Black Prince’, ‘Hornibrookiana’, ‘Nana’
    • variegated  -  e.g., ‘Aurea’
    • golden-yellow in winter  -  e.g., ‘Moseri’
  • Corvallis:  a group west of the Aumann Building at 444 NW Elks Dr.
  • Oregon State Univ. campus: north of Nash Hall; east of Community Hall (nee Benton Hall) near 15th St. 
Click image to enlarge
  • plant habit

    plant habit

  • plant habit

    plant habit

  • needles and mature cones

    needles and mature cones

  • seed cone development

    seed cone development

  • mature open cones

    mature open cones

  • cones

    cones

  • cones, comparison with <i>Pinus thunbergii</i>

    cones, comparison with Pinus thunbergii

  • outer cone scale (apophysis) during maturation

    outer cone scale (apophysis) during maturation

  • shoot tips, winter

    shoot tips, winter

  • trunk, bark

    trunk, bark