Pinus Pinea

Description

Italian Stone Pine,Umbrella Pine,Parasol Pine, Pignolia Nut Pine
Family: Pinaceae
Genus: Pinus
Species: Pinea

Native to the Mediterranean region. It occurs in Southern Europe, North Africa, and the Levant. Stone pines have been used and cultivated for their edible pine nuts since prehistoric times. They are widespread in horticultural cultivation as ornamental trees, planted in gardens and parks around the world. The Stone pine is a coniferous evergreen tree growing to 12–20 m (39–66 ft) in height and can exceed 25 m (82 ft) height. The bark is thick, red-brown, and deeply fissured into broad vertical plates.

Sow indoors at any time. Sow into a cold frame in autumn. Prior to sowing soak seed for 24 hours. Surface sow onto moist, well-drained seed compost just covers with a sprinkling of soil. In a cold frame allow natural winter cold to offer ideal conditions for germination to occur in the spring as the weather warms. Indoors, sow seed then cold stratify. Move to -4-+4°C, a fridge is ideal, for 8 weeks. Some seeds may germinate during this time if so remove to warmth, otherwise remove after 8 weeks to warmth for germination. Indoors germination should take a few weeks from this point. Grow on in the pot. Move to the final growing site when 3 years old.