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Lacebark pine

Pinus bungeana

Common names:
lacebark pine

Content Detail

Lacebark pine has a very distinctive mottled bark that sets it apart from other pines. Branches on this pine can be brittle and more prone to storm damage.

  • 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 30-50 feet
  • Mature width 20-35 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 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 Broad, Pyramidal
  • Growth rate Slow
  • Transplants well No
  • Planting considerations May be difficult to find in nurseries, Weak wood and branch structure
  • Has cultivars Yes

Native geographic location and habitat:

Lacebark pine is native to China.

Bark color and texture:  

The bark peels to reveal a mottled pattern of green, cream, and brown patches.

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

Leaves are evergreen, stiff, and dark green with sharp points. They are  arranged in clusters of three.

Flower arrangement, shape, and size:

Flowers are monoecious (male and female flowers growing on the same tree but in different structures) and are not ornamentally important.

Fruit, cone, nut, and seed descriptions:

This tree produces woody cones growing 2 to 3 inches long.

Plant care:

Lacebark pine can be pruned into a single trunked specimen or can be multi-trunked.

List of pests, diseases, and tolerances:

This tree is less prone to some of the diseases and insects common on pines. The wood is somewhat brittle and the tree may suffer storm damage.

Silver Ghost lacebark pine (Pinus bungeana ‘Silver Ghost’): 

The cultivar has mottled bark with silvery-gray tones.

Temple Gem lacebark pine (Pinus bungeana ‘Temple Gem’): 

This is a more compact, slow-growing cultivar.

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