Black pine - Pinus nigra Oregon Green

The 'Oregon Green' Black Pine is a horticultural variety of Black Pine selected for its unique aesthetic. Its dark green needles, densely arranged like sleeves around the branches, give it a bushy appearance. It is particularly remarkable for its upright, white young shoots, which are extremely decorative. Like the species, it is a very cold-resistant tree also resistant to air pollution and coastal winds, and capable of adapting to various types of well-drained soils. Smaller in size than the typical Black Pine, it is well-suited for small contemporary or Japanese gardens.

Pinus nigra, species of the Black Pine, is a conifer that naturally grows in Europe, Asia Minor, and North Africa. In such a vast area, different subspecies adapted to their local conditions have developed. Three main groups can be distinguished: the subspecies salzmanii in France, Spain, southern Italy, and North Africa; laricio in the Mediterranean (Corsican and Calabrian Pine); and nigra from Austria to Crimea and Turkey.
Based on this important genetic background, numerous horticultural varieties have been selected over time. 'Oregon Green' was originally selected as a seedling in the United States by Morris Van Meter at his nursery in Boring, Oregon, in the early 1990s. It stands out for its upright branches covered with shiny dark green needles arranged in dense sleeves. These needles persist on the tree for 3 to 5 years before renewing. This conifer is extremely decorative in spring when new shoots emerge. These shoots are vertical and have a whitish colour that contrasts with the dark mass of mature foliage. During this season, the conical and pyramidal shape of the tree evokes a chandelier covered in candles. These shoots later turn green as they spread out, while the needles appear.
With a moderate growth rate, this 'Oregon Green' Pine grows 30 to 40cm (15.7in) per year, reaching a height of about 3m (9.8ft) in ten years and 5 to 6m (19.7ft) at maturity, with a width of 3 to 4m (13.1ft). Much more compact than the species, it retains all its adaptability qualities. It adapts to almost all types of soils, including chalky or dry soils. Extremely cold-resistant, withstanding temperatures as low as -30°C (-22°F), its well-developed taproot allows it to tolerate dry conditions once established.

Its short trunk and relatively irregular growth give it a unique appearance, making the Oregon Green Pine suitable for shaping into a specific form. It is therefore perfect for contemporary gardens, alongside rocks, or slate, where its architecture will be highlighted, as well as for alpine or Japanese gardens with its slightly wild or Japanese aspect. It is best planted as a solitary tree to showcase its architectural habit with some space around it. In a Japanese-style garden, it can be paired with Japanese maples, such as Acer palmatum 'Red Pygmy' with finely dissected leaves, or Nandina domestica 'Obsessed Seika' (Sacred Bamboo), two shrubs that take on multiple shades depending on the season.