| General Description | The Turkish Pine, also called the Red Pine (not to be confused with Pinus resinosa) or the Calabrian Pine is a fast growing, resilient tree. It is most commonly found in forests where the thrunk tends to remain straight with a narrow crown of foliage at the top. As a stand alone tree, Pinus brutia takes on a more interesting form with irregular, gnarled branches and broad crown. |
| ID Characteristic | This tree has 2 needles per fascicle, needles are very long and cones are broadly pyramidal. Tree form is typically straight and narrow when trees are planted in groupings together but as a stand alone tree it fills out with a broad crown and twisty branches. |
| Shape | Trees grown in open spaces typically have spreading branches and a larger diffused crown. In forested areas where it’s typically found it grows with a more narrow crown. Branches are irregular and trunk is more prone to curving when standing alone. |
| Landscape | This tree is highly drought resistant and does well in dry soils where other trees may not thrive. As a fast growing tree it is also useful as a windbreak and in reforestation efforts after fires and extensive logging. |
| Propagation | Pinus brutia are typically propagated from seed with deal germination temperature is 20°C. Seed stratification increases chances of germination but is not mandatory, this is due to their thicker seed coat and seeds in certain regions requiring dormancy before germination. Seeds should germinate after 7-28 days if the above requirements are met. There has been evidence that this trees saplings will grow more vigorously after a forest fire due to lack of competition and post fire soil composition changes. |
| Cultivation | P. brutia is very drought tolerant and adapts well to lean soils, it does not withstand freezing temperatures very well, but lower temps can be mitigated with generous watering. They do prefer a higher soil pH, as most conifers do, with a pH around 7. |
| Pests | Orthotomicus erosus, also called the pine bark beetle which attacks stems and bark, generally only attacking weakened trees at the edges of groupings and near fallen trees, and Thaumetopoe pityocampa which is a defoliator commonly called the pine processionary caterpillar. |
| Notable Specimens | Several Pinus brutia specimans can be found at the Institute of Botany and Botanical Garden "Pietro Castelli" of the University in Sicily, Italy. P. Brutia trees are found lining the driveway. |
| Habitat | Usually found in forests and coastal regions, tolerant of dry soil conditions so commonly found in dry soils where other trees cannot survive. Also found in interior mountainous regions with cooler temperatures and higher rainfall than coastal areas. |
| Bark/Stem Description | Bark has deep fissures and thick scales, bark higher up on the tree is more flaky. Colouration is brown-red closer to the bottom, turning more orange-red at the top. Branches are irregular when mature and tender shoots are slender and greyish. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description | Buds are ovoid, scaled, and red-brown in colour. Tips of the buds have white hairs. |
| Leaf Description | Leaves are thin needles, 10-18cm long and 1mm thick with serrulate leaf margins and. Needles are retained for 1.5-2.5 years after maturation and are bundled 2 needles per fascicle. Young leaves are green to yellow-green and glaucous and take 2-4 years to reach mature length. |
| Flower Description | P. Brutia is generally a monoecious tree with male and female flowers present on the same tree, however there have been some specimens found with only male or female flowers instead of both. Flowers are small catkins with male flowers grouped together usually and female flowers are solitary at the ends of or lateral to new shoots. |
| Fruit Description | This tree produces cones that are 6-10cm long, symmetrical and broadly conical. Cones are forward pointing and green when closed, maturing to a glossy red-brown. Maturation occurs 2 years after pollination and cones will open to release seeds 1-2 years after maturing. Seeds are often not released until the cones are softened by winter rains. Cones are very rigid and woody with short broad scales. |
| Colour Description | Overall needle colour is bright green contrasting to the red-brown cones and bark with the upper portion of the tree’s bark orange-red with flakey ridges. Young trees appear more yellow-green with juvenile leaves and cones, but mature specimens have more rich red and orange tones. |
| Texture Description | Overall texture of this tree is course and rugged with deeply scaled bark, irregular branches, and exfoliating scales near the top of the tree trunk. |