Pinus Peuce - Macedonian pine

Macedonian pine has become as important a tree species in landscaping as sembra pine, because it is more resistant to fungal diseases and does not rot as early as sembra pine, which is often pruned at the age of 50. On the other hand, its crown looks sparser when young, because the tree only has two years' worth of needles at a time. The Macedonian pine grows slowly as a seedling, but the growth soon accelerates and eventually becomes up to 25 meters tall. The body is initially thin-skinned, smooth and dark green-gray, scaly and brown-grey when older. The tree withstands wind well thanks to its stilt roots.

Size: 10–20 meters high, crown 4–7 meters wide when old.
Growing method: A tall, old bare-trunk conifer. The branches of the conical canopy are short.
Needles: The needles in bunches of five are 7–10 cm long.
Visits: The species can be recognized by the 8–15 cm long narrow cones, the seeds of which are tasty for squirrels and nutcrackers flying south in autumn.
Place of growth: Sun; growing medium dry–fresh, medium nutrient and well permeable to water. The tree thrives in both acidic and limed soil.
Zones: I–IV(V).

The evergreen Macedonian pine originates from the Balkan Mountains, an area that stretches from Macedonia and Bulgaria to Albania and Greece. In Finland, it can grow to a tree about 10–20 meters high. Under favorable conditions, the tree can grow up to 600 years old. Macedonian pine is slow-growing at first, but the pace gradually increases. In an open place, its growth habit is broadly conical. In the forest, the branches form flat layers. The color of the bark is silver gray when young, the color darkens when older. Macedonian pine belongs to five-needle pines. The blue-green needles of Macedonian pine are 6–11 cm long.

The wind-pollinated flowering of Macedonian pine starts when the tree is 15–20 years old and is timed in early summer. The tree is monoecious; the same individual has both pistil and stamen cones. The pollinated cones ripen by the autumn of the following year. The cones are 8-15 cm long and approx. 2-3 cm wide.

Macedonian pine thrives in a sunny or semi-shady place. Macedonian pine tolerates many types of soil, including poor soils. It thrives best in well-drained soil. The tree needs space for its deep root system where it grows. The tree is very resistant to wind due to its stilt roots. Macedonian pine needs protection from the spring sun when it is young.