Pinus thunbergii 'Thunderhead'
Japanese black pine 'Thunderhead'
A compact, evergreen, coniferous tree, which produces an irregular, billowing, cloud-shaped canopy when mature, reaching about 3m (10ft) high and 1.5m (5ft) across after ten years. It has a open, branching habit. The needles are produced in bunches of two at the tips of the stems and are around 12cm (5in) long. They are glossy green in colour. It can produce oval-shaped, brown cones, that taper to a point at the tips and are up to 7cm (3in) long. The tree withstands exposed, coastal positions extremely well and its relatively small size, means it is an excellent choice for a small, city or courtyard garden, where an architectural, or evergreen focal point is needed
Size
Ultimate height
4–8 metresTime to ultimate height
20–50 yearsUltimate spread
1.5–2.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Acid, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | Brown | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green | Brown | ||
| Autumn | Green | Brown | ||
| Winter | Green | Brown |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or ShelteredDrought resistance
Yes Hardiness
H7Botanical details
- Family
- Pinaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Columnar upright
- 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
Not established
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in well-drained, preferably neutral to acidic soil in full sun
Propagation
Propagate by grafting
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Architectural
- City and courtyard gardens
- Cottage and informal garden
- Patio and container plants
- Coastal
- Low Maintenance
Pruning
No pruning required
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
Get involved
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