Picturesque with age, Pinus pinea (Italian Stone Pine) is an evergreen conifer adorned with a rounded, umbrella-shaped crown on a rather short, slightly sinuous trunk. The bark is thick, plated, deeply fissured, red-brown to orange in color with blackish edges to the plates. The foliage consists of stiff, bright green, adult needles, borne in bunches of two, but they are mixed with the blue-green juvenile foliage which continues to be produced for 3-10 years. Broadly ovoid cones ripen shiny chestnut-brown 3 years after pollination. The cones open on ripening or up to a year later. This tree is famous for its production of large, edible, oily seeds, loved world-wide as pine nuts. Italian Stone Pine thrives in coastal sandy areas. Perfect for the beach garden, it is heat tolerant.

• Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Horticultural Society.
• Grows up to 40-80 ft. tall (12-24 m) and 40-60 ft. wide (12-18 m).
• Performs best in full sun in dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils. Drought and salt tolerant.
• Easy to grow, easy to care for and rarely browsed by deer.
• No pruning required.
• Native to the Mediterranean region.