Pine Scots or Pinus sylvestris is a large evergreen native conifer with blue-green needles and orange-red bark which can be found in large areas of Western Europe and Eastern Siberia up to the Arctic Circle in Scandinavia so is quite a hardy specimen. Supporting a variety of wildlife such as squirrels, pine marten and Scottish wildcat, it can be used for several purposes including windbreaks or shelter belts as well as for its ornamental value as a specimen tree.
A long-lived tree the Pine Scots, which is the only pine tree native to Europe and the national tree of Scotland where it can be found aplenty in the Caledonian forest, averagely will live between 150-300 years, however the oldest recorded specimens are in Lapland at an age of over 760 years. As a tall specimen legend has it that the Pine Scots was planted around homesteads for travellers to find their way in inclement weather. A versatile plant, the timber can be used for telegraph poles and gate posts, the inner bark used to make rope, tar can be made from the roots and dye from the cones.
Pinus sylvestris is a tough plant suited to any soil or situation however it can be superseded by other species in the wild if growing on more fertile soil. It is a hardy enough plant to grow at altitudes up to 2500 metres in southerly areas or 1000 metres in the north. It can grow to a height of 35 metres and the distinctive female cones that are produced can take 2-3 years to ripen so the tree always sports cones of varying ages.
Supplied as pot grown Pine Scots can be planted at any time of year to suit the gardening schedule with no root disturbance. We supply different height plants in varying size pots so that you can choose where to start.
Our team are well informed so if you have any queries on Pinus sylvestris please ring us and we will endeavour to help.
