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| ## japanese black pine {#japanese-black-pine .Title-Header}           |
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| *Pinus thunbergii* Parl.                                              |
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| Plant Symbol = PITH2                                                  |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS Northeast Plant Materials Program

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="3.4375in" height="2.2916666666666665in"}
J.S. Peterson

USDA NRCS NPDC

@ PLANTS

##### Alternate Names {#alternate-names .Header-3}

*Pinus thunbergiana* Franco

##### Uses {#uses .Header-3}

Japanese black pine had been among the best species for planting along
Northeastern seashores until about 1990. The species has suffered from
insects and diseases and has fallen rapidly in esteem.

##### Status {#status .Header-3}

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status (e.g. threatened or endangered
species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

##### Description {#description .Header-3}

Japanese black pine is an introduced evergreen. In its most favorable
habitat, Japanese black pine can reach a height of 100 feet, but in
beach plantings, it is usually less than 20 feet tall. Its spreading,
loosely swaying branches are orange-yellow in color, and form an
irregular silhouette. The blackish-gray bark is furrowed into irregular
plates. Its evergreen foliage consists of bright green bundles of 2
stiff, sharp-pointed needles, 3-5 inches long. The large, grayish-white
terminal buds are oblong, with fringed scales at the tips. After 4 or 5
years of age, nut-brown colored, short-stalked cones, 2-3 inches long,
are produced. Fruiting and seed production are usually prolific. There
are 34,000 seeds per pound.

##### Adaptation and Distribution

This pine is adaptable and will grow on a wide variety of soils under
adverse conditions. Japanese black pine exhibits excellent drought
tolerance but poor shade tolerance; it tolerates moderately well-drained
soils. This pine is more salt-spray resistant than any of the native
pines.

Japanese black pine is distributed primarily throughout the eastern
United States. For a current distribution map, please consult the Plant
Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

##### 

##### Establishment {#establishment .Header-3}

Japanese black pine typically grows on medium fertility, slightly acid,
loamy to sandy soils. Establishment is by planting bare-root or
container-grown plants 2-3 years old. On sand dunes, the use of
container-grown plants is recommended. It may be established using
bare-root two-year-old seedlings where soil and moisture conditions are
good for plant establishment. It is desirable to dig a hole 2-3 times
larger than the container, backfill with peat moss, then mix thoroughly
with the sand. Place the roots in the hole and backfill around them.
Water immediately. Japanese black pine is grown in nurseries from seed,
using conventional propagation practices.

##### Management {#management .Header-3}

Some protection from strong winds the first and second years may improve
survival. Average growth is 12-18 inches per year.

##### Pests and Potential Problems {#pests-and-potential-problems .Header-3}

European pine shoot moth (*Rhyacionia buolinana*) frequently kills
terminal growth of young trees, resulting in irregularly formed trees.
Japanese black pine is also susceptible to red-pine scale (*Matsucoccus
resinosae*).

##### Prepared By & Species Coordinator:  {#prepared-by-species-coordinator .Header-3}

USDA NRCS North**e**ast Plant Materials Program

Edited: 05Feb2002 JLK; 060809 jsp

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

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orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases
apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require
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large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA\'s [TARGET
Center](http://www.usda.gov/oo/target.htm) at 202-720-2600 (voice and
TDD).*

*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or
TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.*

*Read about [Civil Rights at the Natural Resources Convervation
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