Pinus sylvestris

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Scots pineTree, EvergreenFamily: Pinaceae

Height: 35mSpread: 12m

Attractive to wildlife

Foliage colour:

Green

Position

Sun Exposure:

Dappled shade, full shade, full sun, partial shade

Aspect:

East facing, north facing, south facing, west facing

Position in Border:

Back

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) is a conifer native to northern Europe that forms a tall, fairly narrow, dome-shaped tree. It's the only pine native to the UK, where it grows on heathland in the south of the country and in the Scottish highlands. Once the Caledonian pine forest covered much of Scotland, but now only small areas of this valuable habitat remain. Scots pine is long-lived and mature trees can be several hundred years old.

Scots pine bears evergreen, needle-like leaves that are blue-green in colour and grow in pairs. The bark is orange-brown, scaly, and develops deep cracks and fissures as it matures. Both male and female flowers are borne on the same tree – male flowers are long and yellow, and clustered at the base of shoots, while red-brown female flowers are shorter and globular, and form on the shoot tips. Female flowers mature the following year to form woody, grey-brown cones around 5cm long.

Mature Pinus sylvestris trees reach 30-35m in height with a spread of 6-12m in around 30-50 years. They're therefore not suitable for most gardens, though there are some named, cultivated varieties which are much more compact in habit and more suited for garden planting.

Plant calendar

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Pinus ‘Sylvestris’ and wildlife

Pinus ‘Sylvestris’ is known for attracting beneficial insects, birds and butterflies/moths. It is a caterpillar food plant, provides shelter and habitat and has seeds for birds.

Is not known to attract Bees

Bees

Is known to attract Beneficial insects

Beneficial insects

Is known to attract Birds

Birds

Is known to attract Butterflies/Moths

Butterflies/Moths

Is not known to attract Other pollinators

Other pollinators

Is Pinus ‘Sylvestris’ poisonous?

Pinus ‘Sylvestris’ has no toxic effects reported.

No reported toxicity to:

Is not known to attract Birds

Birds

Is not known to attract Cats

Cats

Is not known to attract Dogs

Dogs

Is not known to attract Horses

Horses

Is not known to attract Livestock

Livestock

Is not known to attract People

People