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Mature height x width: |
approx 60' x 30' |
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Recommended initial spacing: |
15' |
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Recommended final spacing: |
~30' |
| Hardy to: | approx -18°C (-0°F) |
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Preferred soil: |
well-drained (tolerant of gravelly / sandy soil), loamy soil |
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Good for: |
drought-tolerance, windbreak, hedgerow, marginal land, privacy screen, low-maintenance, ornamental (umbrella like) |
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Uses: |
pesto, pasta, salads |
Italian Stone Pine (Pinus pinea) is native to areas around the Mediterranian and has long been cultivated by humans for its delicious nuts and beautiful form. The nuts are a crutial ingredient in classic Italian pesto and a great addition to salads and other dishes. Also a tasty snack and a potential staple as they are full of fat and protien. These trees produce best with multiple in a planting for cross-pollination. Cones take 36 months to ripen. Our seedlings come from a pair of trees that produce consistantly here on Denman Island, BC.
Plant in areas where pine trees can grow: sandy or loamy and well-drained soil. This tree is a long-term investment: expect nuts after 10-20 years. But it doesn't need much during that time: these pines are low-maintenance.
Why potted? If you won't be planting your trees right away and you don't feel sure about storing bare root trees then you want potted trees. Potted trees will allow you more flexibility with transplanting timelines and late spring installations, however, they are more expensive to produce and to ship.
Our nuts are grown in tree pots, which are designed with a large opening at the bottom to air prune the root. When the taproot reaches the bottom, instead of circling around, the opening enables the root to gently 'self-prune' itself, stimulating the growth of feeder roots further up.