Pinus engelmannii

Pinus engelmannii detail (18/02/2012, Kew, London)

Position: Full sun (some shade when young)

Flowering period: Spring

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 25m

Eventual Spread: 12 m

Hardiness: 8a – 10b

Family: Pinaceae

Pinus engelmannii is a medium sized, upright, evergreen tree with a rounded open crown. Its dull green leaves are needle like, up to 40cm long, clustered in bundles of 3 (occasionally 4 or 5) and often drooping near the ends of twigs. The branches of the tree are sparse and very stout, giving the tree a distinct appearance. The trunk is straight, tall and often naked and may achieve a diameter of up to 80cm. The young bark is a dark gray/ brown, becoming a furrowed red/ brown with age. The flowers of the plant are monoecious. The males pollen cones are yellow/ brown, cylindrical, appearing in clusters at the ends of twigs. The female cones are initially small and reddish appearing at the branch tips, maturing after 2 years to glossy brown cones which are up to 16cm long. These appear in groups of 2 or 4.

Pinus engelmannii (18/02/2012, Kew, London)

Pinus engelmannii, commonly known as Apache pine and Western Yellow Pine, is native to southern USA and Mexico. The Apache name refers to the species occurrence in the lands of the Apache Native Americans. Pinus engelmannii was formally known as Pinus ponderos  var. mayriana.

The etymological root of the binomial name Pinus is derived from an Ancient Classical name for a Pine Tree. Engelmannii is named after the pioneering American botanist George Engelmann (1809-1884) who discovered the species in 1848.

The landscape architect may find Pinus engelmannii useful as an upright evergreen specimen tree. The young trees are attractive as the elegant needles can be seen and appreciated. The mature trees are impressive for their long, strait branch free stem. Once established this tree is drought tolerant.

Pinus engelmannii bark (18/02/2012, Kew, London)

Ecologically, Pinus engelmannii is of little ecological value to UK wildlife.

Pinus engelmannii prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.

Pinus engelmannii requires little maintenance.

Pinus ponderosa

Pinus ponderosa detail (21/01/2012, Kew, London)

Position: Full sun

Flowering period: Summer

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 50m

Eventual Spread: 15m

Hardiness: 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a

Family: Pinaceae

Pinus ponderosa is a large, evergreen tree with an irregular crown. Its stiff, dark green, needle like leaves are up to 20cm in length and are usually arranged 2 or 3 (up to 5) in a bundle. The ends of the branches hold the clustered needles. The bark of the tree is orange with rough, furrowed ridges developing large scaly plates with age. These can be up to 10cm in thickness. The trunk may achieve a diameter of 1m. The flowers of this tree are monoecious. The male flowers are deep purple in colour, 2 cm long. The females flowers are dull red in colour, developing into slender ovoid cones which mature to brown in late summer and are up to 10cm in length. 

Pinus ponderosa (21/01/2012, Kew, London)

Pinus ponderosa, commonly known as Ponderosa Pine, Bull Pine, Blackjack Pine or Western Yellow Pine, is native to western North America and is associated with mountainous topography. It was described by David Douglas in 1826 and is the state tree of the state of Montana, USA. It was introduced into the UK in 1837. A P. ponderosa was climbed and measured in the Siskiyou National Forest, Origaon, USA on 13/10/2011. It measured 81.77m and is the tallest known Pine tree. There are four subspecies of this tree.

The etymological root of the binomial name Pinus is an ancient classical name for a ‘Pine tree’. Ponderosa is derived from the Latin ponderosus ‘significant’.

The landscape architect may find Pinus ponderosa useful as a large, evergreen specimen tree where space permits.

Pinus ponderosa bark (21/01/2012, Kew, London)

Ecologically Pinus ponderosa is attractive to squirrels and other wildlife who like to consume the seed of the tree. The needles are the only known food of the caterpillars of the Gelechiid Moth.

The Royal Horticultural Society has given Pinus ponderosa their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993.

Pinus ponderosa prefers moist, well-drained soils, preferably deep sandy gravels. It tolerates most pH of soil.

Pinus ponderosa requires little maintenance.