Other Names:  Bhutan Pine, Blue Pine

Description:

One of the most beautiful of all evergreens, with long soft blue-green needles which hang from the branches, giving an overall airy, soft-textured appearance; broadly spreading and low branched, a stunning accent plant; needs shelter from winter winds

Ornamental Features

Himalayan Blue Pine is primarily valued in the landscape for its ornamental globe-shaped form. It has attractive bluish-green evergreen foliage. The needles are highly ornamental and remain bluish-green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Himalayan Blue Pine is a dense evergreen tree with a strong central leader and a more or less rounded form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance tree. When pruning is necessary, it is recommended to only trim back the new growth of the current season, other than to remove any dieback. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Himalayan Blue Pine is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Shade

Planting & Growing

Himalayan Blue Pine will grow to be about 40 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 25 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 2 feet from the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 70 years or more.

This tree should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is not particular as to soil type, but has a definite preference for acidic soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. This species is not originally from North America.