General Description | This tree can withstand some of the coldest temperatures on Earth but is difficult to grow even in North America as Canada’s winters aren’t cold enough. |
ID Characteristic | It has green 2–3 cm long needles that turn a bright yellow before falling in the autumn. The bark is a reddish brown and turns grey as the tree ages. The old cones remains on the tree for many years eventually turning black. |
Shape | It commonly reaches heights of 30 m but in exceptional cases heights of 40 m have been reported. l It is broad or cone shaped, usually with a trunk up to 1 m in diameter at breast height. Its branches are normally straight but occasionally drooping. |
Landscape | Plant as a specimen but it is very difficult due to its very low temperature requirements. |
Propagation | A month of cold temperature stratification (5°C) is required. Plant the seeds in individual pots in late winter and place in a cold frame. By early summer, after a few cm of growth they may be moved outside in partial shade and a protected environment. Plant in the final setting after one full season of growth: the tree transplants easily. |
Cultivation | The tree prefers full sun and is tolerant of most soil types and conditions, however it requires a long winter dormancy and in the southern reaches of the northern hemisphere it might be difficult to grow. In England it tends to leaf out in January, the newly emerged leaves are killed by frost and the plant then goes into decline. In its native habitat it does not usually push leaves until May-June after all danger of frost has passed. |
Pests | Very few pests. Caterpillars of the Tortix family eat the cones. Warmer temperatures however are affecting this tree's natural yearly cycle. |
Notable Specimens | Not a popular tree in North America but one in Yakutia, Russia has been recorded to be over 900 years old. |
Habitat | It is found in large monoculture forests growing at altitudes of 50-1, 200 m on permafrost, bogs and mountain soils. It is the most northerly growing tree in the world. |
Bark/Stem Description | The bark of young trees is smooth and reddish brown eventually becoming grey and rougher with age. |
Flower/Leaf Bud Description | Each new shoot bears several buds, the dark brown bud scales are triangularly ovate being 1–2 cm long. |
Leaf Description | Foliage is bright green needles, 2–3 cm long, turning an attractive yellow in the autumn before dropping. |
Flower Description | Flowers are bright pink when in bloom, growing to 6 cm in a spike formation along the shoots: the tree is monoecious. |
Fruit Description | This tree bears 1–2 cm long cones emerging green and becoming brown with maturity. They commonly stay in the tree long after pollination turning grey and eventually black. |
Colour Description | The bark is reddish-brown, greying with age. The needles are green and turn yellow before dropping in the autumn. The flowers are bright pink while the cones emerge green turning brown towards maturity, spent cones persist for several years and turn black. |
Texture Description | A fine textured tree but becoming rigid with age. |