Pinus densiflora 'Oculus Draconis' (Dragons-eye Japanese Red Pine)


Michael's Opinion

One of the more unusual pines, when branches are viewed from the terminal it appears as if an eye is looking back at you; this is due to the yellow banding.

Botanical Information

FamilyPinaceae
GenusPinus
Speciesdensiflora
Cultivar'Oculus Draconis'
CategoryWoody
TypeTree (evergreen)
Pronunciation

Details

USDA Hardiness Zone4a–8b
USDA Hardiness Ref.
Canadian Hardiness Zone2a - 8a
Canada Hardiness Ref.
RHS Hardiness ZoneH4 - H7
RHS Hardiness Ref.
Temperature (°C)-34 - (-7)
Temperature (°F)-30 - 20
Height8 - 10 m
Spread5 m
GrowthSlow
Flowering PeriodMay

Description and Growing Information

General DescriptionA medium sized evergreen with a green or yellow-green colour to it. Has unique foliage colours and if looked at from above it resembles a dragon’s eye.
ID CharacteristicPyramidal shape with bright yellow-green colour. It grows in full sunlight. The branches grow in an irregular form and it has a crooked trunk.
ShapeLoosely pyramidal.
PropagationGrafting is recommended in late winter for this cultivar. Cuttings are also taken and they have been rooted however the success rate is very low.
CultivationRequires well drained, moist, rich, sandy-loam soils. If roots are properly pruned transplanting can be done quite easily. Tolerant of urban conditions.
PestsThere are a few pests and diseases that plague this tree among them are root rot, tip blight, canker, white pine aphids and pine spittle bugs.
Notable SpecimensThe Gardens of Fanshawe College, London, Ontario, Canada. The Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. Whistling Gardens, Wilsonville, Ontario, Canada.
HabitatHorticultural origin.
Bark/Stem DescriptionThe bark is scaly and fissured. It is a brown colour but some can start to lean towards a brown-orange colour.
Flower/Leaf Bud DescriptionBuds can be from 1-2 cm long, cylindrical and can be quite resinous. You will find the buds to be a red-brown colour.
Leaf DescriptionFoliage is stiff and sharp. It is a green-yellow colour but turns brownish as autumn and winter set in. Needles are 7.5-12.5 cm long and have unique yellow and green coloured bands around them. Needles are in a fascicle of 2.
Flower DescriptionPlants are monoecious.
Fruit DescriptionCones can be anywhere from 3.5-4 cm long. The cones can grow singly or in clusters, cones are oblique at the base.
Colour DescriptionFoliage is bright yellow-green in summer, but starts to turn to a brownish yellow later in the season. Bark is a brown-orange colour.
Texture DescriptionOverall the tree has a medium texture. The bark is scaly and somewhat fissured. Foliage is stiff and sharp.

Photographs