Scots pine
ExplorePlants
Scots pine
Pinus sylvestris
The Scots pine is a tall tree with long, slender trunks and soft, green needles. It grows in many places and is known for its beautiful, straight shape. This tree is important for wildlife and people alike!
Habitat: Forests
Appearance
The Scots pine is a tall evergreen conifer with distinctive reddish-orange bark that peels in plates on its upper trunk and branches. It has paired, stiff, blue-green needles and an often irregular, open crown when mature, unlike many other conifers.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassPinopsidaOrderPinalesFamilyPinaceaeGenusPinus
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
6
Interesting facts
Its fresh needles can be brewed into a tea rich in vitamin C!
Its strong wood was once used to build the mighty masts of sailing ships!
The oldest Scots pine in Scotland is over 500 years old!
You can tell a Scots pine by its wonderfully distinctive orangey-red top bark!
Special abilities
Ability
Fire Fighter Bark
Scots pine has thick, flaky bark, especially on its lower trunk, that helps protect it from ground fires, allowing it to survive.
Ability
Water-Saving Needles
Scots pine needles are covered in a waxy layer and grow in pairs, which helps them conserve water in dry or cold climates.
Ability
Pioneer Power
Scots pine can grow in nutrient-poor or sandy soils where other trees struggle, helping it establish new forests.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 1500-3500 cm
- Spread
- 600-800 cm
- Bloom Season
- Spring
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Wind
Ecological connections
Eats
Red squirrel
Sciurus vulgaris
Feeds on the nutritious seeds found within pine cones.
Depends on
Scottish crossbill
Loxia scotica
Its unique beak is perfectly shaped to extract seeds from pine cones.
Eats
Capercaillie
Tetrao urogallus
Mainly feeds on its needles, especially during winter months.
Symbiotic with
Slippery Jack mushroom
Suillus luteus
Its roots and this fungus share nutrients underground.
Traits
Cold Hardy
Cold hardy plants are able to withstand low temperatures and freezing conditions without significant damage.
Coniferous
Coniferous plants are typically evergreen, bearing needles or scales and reproductive cones.
Evergreen
Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
Timber
Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry.
Ancient Lineage
This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Longevous
This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind.
Keystone Species
Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Stay on paths when exploring forests and don't climb trees without an adult.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Scots 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 Scots pine?
1500-3500 cm
How wide does Scots pine spread?
600-800 cm
When does Scots pine bloom?
Spring
Is Scots pine edible?
No
Is Scots pine toxic?
None
What is Scots pine's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Scots pine pollinated?
Wind
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