# Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris)

> 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.

Source: https://treerm.org/trees/pinus-sylvestris · Updated 2026-11-08 · License CC BY 4.0

## Facts

- Also called: Scotch pine
- Family: Pinaceae
- Type: Conifer
- Mature height: 30 m; spread 10 m
- Growth: Medium growth; lives about 300 years
- USDA hardiness zones: 2 to 7
- Light: Full sun
- Water: Low water
- 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.

**Benefits:** Wildlife, Birds, Long lived, Drought tolerant, Windbreak, Stores carbon well, Storm resistant

**Good for:** Reforestation, Timber, Windbreak, parks

**Watch out for:** Heavy litter

## 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.

## Where it stands

- **Native:** Germany; Spain; SCT, United Kingdom (Natural range confined to the Scottish Highlands (Caledonian pinewood)); Ireland (Listed native by WCVP; widely planted); Norway; Russia
- **Adapted:** ENG, United Kingdom (Widely planted for timber and shelter; naturalised on heaths); WLS, United Kingdom (Planted); New Zealand (Planted; a wilding conifer risk in NZ)

## 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/