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Balkan pine

Pinus peuce

Common names:
Balkan pine, Macedonian pine

Content Detail

Balkan pine is not well known, but has potential to be an attractive landscape plant in residential yards. This tree may be difficult to find in local nurseries.

  • Family (English) Pine
  • Family (botanic) Pinaceae
  • Planting site Residential and parks
  • Tree or plant type Tree
  • Foliage Evergreen (foliage year-round)
  • Native locale Non-native
  • Size range Medium tree (25-40 feet), Large tree (more than 40 feet)
  • Mature height 30-60 feet
  • Mature width 20-25 feet
  • Light exposure Full sun (6 hrs direct light daily)
  • Hardiness zones Zone 4, Zone 5 (Northern Illinois), Zone 6 (City of Chicago), Zone 7
  • Soil preference Acid soil, Moist, well-drained soil
  • Tolerances Alkaline soil, Occasional drought
  • Season of interest early winter, midwinter, late winter, early spring, mid spring, late spring, early summer, midsummer, late summer, early fall, mid fall, late fall
  • Flower color and fragrance Inconspicuous
  • Shape or form Narrow, Pyramidal
  • Growth rate Slow
  • Transplants well Yes
  • Planting considerations May be difficult to find in nurseries
  • Has cultivars Yes

Native geographic location and habitat: 

This pine is native to the Balkans.

Bark color and texture: 

The bark is gray-brown, becoming scaly with age.

Leaf or needle arrangement, size, shape, and texture: 

The evergreen needles are held in bundles of five and are 3 to 4 inches long.

Flower arrangement, shape, and size: 

The trees are monoecious, with separate male and female flowers. The flowers are not ornamentally important.

Fruit, cone, nut, and seed descriptions: 

The woody cones are 3 to 6 inches long.

Plant care: 

This pine does best in full sun. It is relatively tolerant of most soils as long as it is well-drained. It is somewhat tolerant of salt and it is slow growing.

List of pests, diseases, and tolerances: 

This tree is susceptible to a number of diseases, including Diplodia tip blight,  needle casts and pine wilt. It is also susceptible to a number of pests, including pine sawfly, pine needle scale and Zimmerman pine moth.

Pacific Blue Balkan pine (Pinus peuce ‘Pacific Blue’): 

This cultivar has blue needles and a more upright habit than the species.

Photo Gallery (4)

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