Pinus wallichiana – Bhutan Pine, Himalayan Pine, Himalayan White Pine, Blue Pine

Description

Pinus wallichiana, commonly known as Himalayan pine, Bhutan pine, or blue pine, is a large, graceful evergreen conifer native to the Himalayan region. It’s admired for its elegant, drooping foliage and is widely used for timber, turpentine, and as an ornamental tree.

This tree can grow to 30-50 meters tall with a straight trunk and a broad, pyramidal crown that becomes more open and irregular with age. The bark on young trees is smooth and gray but becomes fissured and darker with maturity. The needles are a striking feature: they are long (12-20 cm), soft, slender, and arranged in bundles of five. They are typically a bluish-green or grayish-green color, and they often hang down, giving the tree a soft, flowing appearance.

The cones of Pinus wallichiana are long and slender, measuring 15-30 cm. They are erect when young but become pendulous as they mature. The cones are initially bluish-green and turn a light brown when they ripen. The seeds are small, about 5-6 mm long, and have a long wing (20-30 mm) that helps with wind dispersal. They are enclosed within the scales of the cone and are released when the cone opens, typically while still on the tree.