Japanese red pine
An evergreen conifer of East Asia with needles in pairs and reddish bark to observe.
- Scientific name
- Pinus densiflora
- Family
- Pinaceae
- Other names
- Red pine · Akamatsu
- Reviewed
A reference photograph of Japanese red pine. Appearance can vary with the tree's age and growing conditions.
Photo credit: Dalgial
License: CC BY-SA 3.0
The photograph was resized and converted to JPEG.
Names and classification
Japanese red pine is an evergreen tree in the pine family. This entry covers the single species Pinus densiflora, distinguishing it from names used collectively for several kinds of pine.
Observable features
Slender needles usually grow in bundles of two, and bark on the upper trunk peels with orange or reddish tones. Crown and trunk shape vary with age and growing conditions.
Distribution and habitat
It occurs in East Asia, including Korea and Japan, and can be seen on sunny mountainsides and in woodland. The location of a planted garden specimen does not necessarily indicate its natural distribution.
Ecology and life cycle
Instead of flowers with petals, it produces pollen cones and seed cones, with wind carrying the pollen. Observing developing cones and new shoots together helps reveal seasonal changes.
Cultivation and care
Choose a sunny, well-drained site. Adjust watering to soil dryness, season and establishment of the roots, rather than applying the same schedule to a young tree and a large established one.
Observation and use precautions
Do not identify the species from needle count alone; check bark and cones as well. Do not remove branches or bark for observation, and respect collection restrictions in protected areas.