# Aleppo pine (*Pinus halepensis*) The Aleppo pine is a tall tree with long, green needles and a rough bark. It loves sunny places and can grow in dry areas. This tree is great for providing shade and homes for animals. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Dry forests ![Aleppo pine](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Calanques_--_Calanque_de_Port_Pin_-_Pinus_halepensis.jpg&width=800) Photo: spacebirdy (also known as geimfyglið (:\> )=| made with Sternenlaus -spirit), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Calanques_--_Calanque_de_Port_Pin_-_Pinus_halepensis.jpg) ## Appearance The Aleppo pine has an often-crooked trunk with reddish-brown bark that peels in plates. Its open, irregular crown holds short, bright green needles growing in pairs, and shiny, conical cones that stay on the branches for years. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Pinopsida - **Order:** Pinales - **Family:** Pinaceae - **Genus:** Pinus ## Interesting facts - Aleppo pines grow curvy and twisty, like they're dancing in the wind! - Did you know its seeds, called pine nuts, are yummy and loved by people and animals? - Its wood has been used for centuries to build ships and even make musical instruments! - This brave tree is often the first to grow back after a forest fire! ## Special abilities - **Fire Igniter:** Aleppo pine's cones are serotinous, meaning intense heat helps them burst open to release seeds and grow new trees. - **Water Hunter:** Aleppo pine has long taproots that dive deep into dry soil to find hidden water sources, helping it survive droughts. - **Pest Repellent:** Aleppo pine creates sticky resin that oozes out to trap insects and heal wounds, protecting it from pests and diseases. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 1500-2500 cm - **Spread:** 500-1000 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Red Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-squirrel) (*Sciurus vulgaris*) — Feeds on its nutritious pine nuts. - **Eats:** Common Crossbill (*Loxia curvirostra*) — Extracts seeds from its tough cones. - **Shelter:** [House Sparrow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-sparrow) (*Passer domesticus*) — Builds nests securely within its dense canopy. ## Traits - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Coniferous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coniferous): Coniferous plants are typically evergreen, bearing needles or scales and reproductive cones. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Stay away from sharp pine cones and branches. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Aleppo pine? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Aleppo pine? 1500-2500 cm ### How wide does Aleppo pine spread? 500-1000 cm ### When does Aleppo pine bloom? Spring ### Is Aleppo pine edible? Yes ### Is Aleppo pine toxic? None ### What is Aleppo pine's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is Aleppo pine pollinated? Wind ## Where to spot - [Cabrera Archipelago National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cabrera-archipelago-national-park) — Spain, ES · National Park - [Mondragó Natural Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mondrago-natural-park) — Illes Balears, ES · Park - [Parc Natural de l’Albufera, Valencia](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/albufera-natural-park-valencia) — Comunitat Valenciana, ES · Park - [Calblanque, Monte de las Cenizas and Peña del Águila Regional Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/calblanque-regional-park) — Región de Murcia, ES · Park - [Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cilento-vallo-di-diano-and-alburni-national-park) — IT · Park - [Park Güell](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/park-guell) — Cataluña, ES · Park [View all places to see Aleppo pine](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/aleppo-pine) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Aleppo pine: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/aleppo-pine)