# 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! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 6 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Scots pine](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426770/objects/1503.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Pinopsida - **Order:** Pinales - **Family:** Pinaceae - **Genus:** Pinus ## 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 - **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. - **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. - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cold-hardy): Cold hardy plants are able to withstand low temperatures and freezing conditions without significant damage. - [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. - [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. - [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 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 ## Where to spot - [Sauganash Trail](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sauganash-trail) — Illinois, US · Trail - [African Safari Wildlife Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/african-safari-wildlife-park) — Ohio, US · Zoo - [Woburn Safari Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/woburn-safari-park) — England, GB · Zoo - [Kolmårdens djurpark](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kolm-rdens-djurpark) — Östergötland County, SE · Zoo - [Monkey World](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/monkey-world) — England, GB · Zoo - [Alto Tajo Natural Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alto-tajo-natural-park) — Castilla-La Mancha, ES · Park [View all places to see Scots pine](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/scots-pine) ## Watch - [Play video: Scots pine](https://www.snappit.app/videos/scots-pine) - [YouTube](https://youtube.com/watch?v=K1tiesOGnCA) ## 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: [Scots pine: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/scots-pine)