{"slug":"pinus-sylvestris","scientific_name":"Pinus sylvestris","common_names":["Scots pine","Scotch pine"],"family":"Pinaceae","type":"conifer","mature_height_m":30,"mature_spread_m":10,"growth_rate":"medium","lifespan_years":300,"hardiness_zones":[2,7],"sun":"full","water":"low","soil":"Light, acidic sandy or gravelly soils and peat; needs good drainage and full light","native_range":"Native across northern Europe and Asia from Scotland and Spain to Scandinavia, Russia, Siberia and north-east China; the only pine native to Britain.","description":"A tall pine of up to 35 m with blue-green needles in pairs and orange-red flaking bark on the upper trunk, becoming flat-topped and picturesque with age. Scotland's national tree and the keystone of the Caledonian pinewood, home to red squirrels, capercaillie and crossbills. Widely planted for timber, shelter and rewilding across Britain and Ireland.","care":"Plant small container or bare-root trees in autumn on open, well-drained ground; protect from deer. No pruning needed beyond removing dead lower branches. Diseases include Dothistroma (red band) needle blight, needle cast, pine stem rust and root and butt rot; pine tree lappet moth is a potential defoliator in Scotland. Lives up to about 700 years.","benefits":["wildlife","birds","long_lived","drought_tolerant","windbreak","carbon","storm_resistant"],"uses":["reforestation","timber","windbreak","parks"],"cautions":["heavy_litter"],"image_url":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/91/Skuleskogen_pine.jpg","image_credit":"Wikimedia Commons, file Skuleskogen_pine.jpg (see file page for author and licence)","sources":["https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/scots-pine/","https://www.gbif.org/species/5285637","https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=285005","https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/pinus-sylvestris/"],"data_note":null,"updated_at":"2026-11-08T01:00:46.205Z","page_url":"https://treerm.org/trees/pinus-sylvestris","markdown_url":"https://treerm.org/trees/pinus-sylvestris.md","regions":[{"country":"DE","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/5285637"},{"country":"ES","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/5285637"},{"country":"GB","region":"SCT","locality":null,"status":"native","note":"Natural range confined to the Scottish Highlands (Caledonian pinewood)","source_url":"https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/scots-pine/"},{"country":"IE","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":"Listed native by WCVP; widely planted","source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/5285637"},{"country":"NO","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/5285637"},{"country":"RU","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/5285637"},{"country":"GB","region":"ENG","locality":null,"status":"adapted","note":"Widely planted for timber and shelter; naturalised on heaths","source_url":"https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/scots-pine/"},{"country":"GB","region":"WLS","locality":null,"status":"adapted","note":"Planted","source_url":"https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/scots-pine/"},{"country":"NZ","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"adapted","note":"Planted; a wilding conifer risk in NZ","source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/5285637"}],"license":"CC-BY-4.0"}