Pinus wallichiana

I really love this tree, surely the most graceful pine.

Scott

Another.

But Resin will say it just can't be, as it is only hardy to Zone 8(or something like that)

Looks a lot like a strobus, very nice

Scott,

I have ran into a number of out of zone plants labeled P. wallichiana and the conifer guys from across the Pond always ID them as P. x schwerinii, the hybrid. One of the ways that they can tell is how the scales are arranged on the cone. Google 'phyllotaxis' if you are bored. Foliar characteristics are very similar to P. wallichiana and even the cone size can be larger than what the hybrid is supposed to make but they always say "hybrid." I have a pile of cones sitting in my living room from (single guys can get away with this) plants that I have seen at in NY, Bluebird Nursery, Spring Grove, and from more southernly sources that try to compare to see if I can see a difference. I write it off as a big mess and will believe them until some official documents are published. Or perhaps there is a vast European conspiracy trying to cheat us out of our rightful pleasure of growing the plant where it's not supposed to grow? Who cares? The foliage is nice enough on some of them to grow it without the name.

Regards,
Ernie

Indeed, a rose by any other name is still a rose. Some English dude said that.

scott

How long are the needles on this one? My pinus palustris needles are sometimes over 16 inches.

Whether it's P. wallichiana or a relative, I agree with you that it is one of the loveliest of trees. Our neighbor has one and it is lovely to watch the wind ruffle those beautiful long needles!

Here's P. wallichiana 'zebrina' which is yellow striped. There's one growing up here near Chicago so I think it's hardier than credited. Mine is still in a pot but survived some cold temperatures last year before taking inside.

Here's a pic of one in winter....Nice, huh?

Here's a wally

And one better, Pinus bhutanica

Both at Edinburgh RBG.

Ernie - if you can take some photos of your cones, I'll see what I can make of them. Best to include a 30cm ruler in the pics for scale.

Resin

dybbuk,
Do not let any of those conifer folks from the PNW or UK diminish your COLD HARDY P. wallichiana 'zebrina' this New Eng lander is jumping up and down. kt