Austrian Pine

Pinus nigra Arnold

            

        

All photographs are copyrighted and are the property of E. Brunner.

Family:  Pinaceae

Native or Introduced to Illinois:  introduced

Leaf:  The needlelike leaves occur in bundles of two, are 4 to 6 inches long, are stiff and sharp pointed, and of a light green color.

Cones:  The egg-shaped cones are 2 to 3 inches long and 1 to 1-1/4 inches wide.  The cones open during the late fall and early winter.

Bark:  The tree has attractive, coarse, deep-cinnamon-colored bark of irregular plates with distinctive deep fissures, making it one of the handsomest pines for bark

Size/Form/Shape:   The tree grows moderately fast, 75 to 100 feet tall when mature, and is hardy and is quite drought resistant.  When grown in the open, it holds its branches quite close to the ground.

Other:  Planted in Illinois Beach State Park more than 100 years ago, where it has reproduced in good numbers.

Although not native to Illinois, the Austrian pine has been planted quite widely where it has been planted both in farmstead windbreaks and as an ornamental.  This species has many disease problems and is not recommended in some areas.

County Distribution Map for Illinois:  

Sources for the Sullivan Middle School Tree Identification Guide were obtained though the use of the following sites:

• Illinois Plant Information Network (ILPIN) @ http://www.fs.fed.us/ne/delaware/ilpin/ilpin.html#Background
• List of Woody Plants Native or Naturalized in Illinois @ http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/~kenr/woody.html
• Tree Species @ http://ostermiller.org/tree/species.html
• Index to Eastern/Central Trees @ http://www.arborday.org/trees/ECtreelist.html
• ISU Forestry Extension Identification of Common Trees of Iowa @ http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Pages/tree/
• Key to Leaves of Virginia Trees @ http://www.fw.vt.edu/dendro/forsite/key/intro.htm
• List of Native Trees for Use Along Roadsides in Illinois @ http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/~kenr/treetable.html
• The PLANTS Database @ http://plants.usda.gov/

The information below is from the National Arbor Day Foundation.  This information can be viewed in the original (source) form by visiting The National Arbor Day Foundation at http://www.arborday.org.

GROWING REQUIREMENTS/RATE
Sun Exposure:  Full sun
Moisture:  Wide range of soils if moist
Growth Rate:  Medium

Hardiness Zones:  4 - 7
The Austrian Pine can be expected to grow in the temperature extremes of the zones shown in color in this arborday.org hardiness zone map.