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Pinus pinea seeds - Parasol pine

Pinus pinea
Stone Pine, Umbrella Pine

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Iconic of Mediterranean landscapes, much like the cypress, this large conifer develops a majestic and characteristic silhouette over time. Valued for its ornamental elegance, the stone pine also charms with its precious seeds, the pine nuts, offering a delicately woody and resinous flavour. Well-suited to warm climates, it tolerates drought and sea spray perfectly. Ideal for large coastal gardens. Sowing is relatively easy, but the seeds only germinate after a few weeks of cold stratification.
Height at maturity
18 m
Exposure
Sun
Germination time (days)
40 days
Sowing method
Sowing under cover, Sowing under cover with heat
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Sowing period March to May
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Flowering time April to May
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Description

Pinus pinea, the umbrella pine or stone pine, is a large conifer emblematic of Mediterranean landscapes. When young, it displays a rounded silhouette, but over time, the tree becomes bare at the base and adopts a majestic appearance. Its unmistakable silhouette forms a broad, table-like crown dominating a trunk often tilted by the wind. The ornamental umbrella pine is prized for its pine nuts, delicious seeds with a delicate resinous flavour. Undemanding regarding soil type, it tolerates drought and sea spray well. However, young specimens remain vulnerable to severe frosts, which limits its cultivation in regions with harsh winters.

Native to the Mediterranean basin, Pinus pinea belongs to the Pinaceae family. Introduced centuries ago into various regions, it thrives naturally in Mediterranean forests, alongside the holm oak and Aleppo pine. At maturity, the umbrella pine reaches around 20 m in height with a spread of 10 m. During its early years, it exhibits a bushy, highly branching habit from the base. Its growth is relatively rapid after a two-year rooting phase: by the age of four, it can reach 2 m tall. Around ten years, it adopts its characteristic umbrella shape, with a slender trunk, straight or sometimes slightly twisted by the wind, topped by a dense, rounded crown. Its thick, reddish-brown bark is deeply fissured and channelled. Its bright green, evergreen leaves are soft and barely prickly needles, measuring between 8 and 18 cm long. The spring flowering combines male and female cones on the same tree. After pollination, the female cones produce large, globular pine cones of 10 cm in diameter, which take three years to ripen. Upon maturity, their brown scales open to release the pine nuts, coated in a fine black dust. Each seed, protected by a particularly hard, light-brown shell, contains an edible and aromatic kernel. 
These fresh seeds germinate easily after a winter exposure to cold, which breaks their natural dormancy. The harvest of pine nuts takes place in summer or early autumn, depending on climatic conditions.

The majestic and imposing umbrella pine finds its perfect place as a standalone feature in a large garden, where it can fully spread its crown without constraints. A mature tree will tolerate -10/-12°C at peak, but a young plant will be more fragile. In the south, it is often planted in small groves, providing pleasant shade near terraces or along property boundaries. Reluctant to share its space with other trees, its thick carpet of needles limits the growth of plants at its base. However, certain adapted Mediterranean species tolerate its presence, notably laurustinus, the strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo), the mastic treemyrtle, Phillyrea...

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Pines: planting, pruning and care
Family sheet
by Eva 14 min.
Pines: planting, pruning and care
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Pinus pinea seeds - Parasol pine in pictures

Pinus pinea seeds - Parasol pine (Plant habit) Plant habit

Flowering

Flowering time April to May

Foliage

Foliage persistence Evergreen
Foliage colour green

Plant habit

Height at maturity 18 m
Spread at maturity 10 m
Growth rate normal

Botanical data

Genus

Pinus

Species

pinea

Family

Pinaceae

Other common names

Stone Pine, Umbrella Pine

Origin

Mediterranean

Product reference23973

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Planting and care

Sowing Stone Pine seeds (Pinus pinea) requires special attention, especially when seeds in packets may have lost their freshness.

Start by soaking the seeds in lukewarm water for 24 hours, changing the water halfway through. Then, a cold stratification is recommended: place the seeds in a moist substrate (such as sand or vermiculite) and keep them in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 weeks. This step simulates winter conditions and promotes uniform germination.

After stratification, sow the seeds in spring, under cover, in a well-draining mix of seed compost and sand, at a temperature between 18°C and 22°C. Keep the substrate slightly moist and place the sowings in indirect light until germination, which may occur within 1 to 2 weeks.

Once the young plants are sufficiently developed and after several needles have formed, transplant into individual pots. Use a similar substrate and ensure the containers provide good drainage. It is essential to handle the roots carefully to avoid stress.

When the plants reach an adequate size and the risk of frost has passed, usually after 2 to 3 years, they can be transplanted into open ground. Choose a sunny location with well-drained soil, and protect the young trees from strong winds. In the first few years, water regularly to encourage good rooting, while avoiding excess water. Once established, the Stone Pine tolerates drought and sea spray well.

Sowing period

Sowing period March to May
Sowing method Sowing under cover, Sowing under cover with heat
Germination time (days) 40 days

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow
Type of use Free-standing
Hardiness Hardy down to -9°C (USDA zone 8b) Show map
Ease of cultivation Amateur
Exposure Sun
Soil pH Any
Soil moisture Dry soil, Moist soil, Well-draining, deep soil

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