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ConifersTrees

Pinus cembra

Arolla pine

A bushy tree to 20m tall, usually narrow in habit, with dark grey-green needles borne in fives, and ovoid cones 6cm long, blue-green when young, later pale brown, and contained large, edible seeds

Other common names

Russian cedar
Siberian cedar
see moreSiberian cedar pine
Swiss stone pine

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Plant nurseries
2 suppliers

Ultimate height

Higher than 12 metres

Time to ultimate height

more than 50 years

Ultimate spread

4–8 metres

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing or East–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Drought resistance

Yes

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Pinaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Pinus can be shrubs or large, evergreen trees, some species with attractive bark, developing an irregular outline with age and bearing long needle-like leaves in bundles of 2, 3 or 5; conspicuous cones may fall or remain on the tree for years
Name status: Correct
Plant range: C & E Europe

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in any well-drained soil in full sun. May be short-lived in shallow, chalk soil. See Trees: buying and planting specimens

Propagation

Propagate by seed in containers in a cold frame in spring. Semi-ripe cuttings from vigorous young growth in summer or early to mid autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Keep pruning to a minimum but if dual leaders form on young trees, remove one to produce a single-stemmed tree. Trees may be resinous, any pruning should be carried out from late summer to midwinter

Pests

May be susceptible to adelgids, conifer aphid, sawfly larvae, and pine shoot moth

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus and needle cast diseases

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