Bhutan pine (Pinus wallichiana)

Bhutan pine (Pinus wallichiana) is a conifer that can grow higher than 15m tall and wider than 8 metres wide. In this growing guide we’ll learn the cultivation details and how to plant Bhutan pine (Pinus wallichiana).

This plant has several common names including: Bhutan pine, blue pine, Himalayan pine or Himalayan white pine.

This is a evergreen plant that takes more than 50 years to reach full maturity.

Plant profile

Common name: Bhutan pine, blue pine, Himalayan pine, Himalayan white pine
Scientific name: Pinus wallichiana
Plant type: Conifers, Trees
Habit: Bushy
Height: Higher than 15m
Spread: Wider than 8 metres
Foliage: Evergreen
Sunlight: Full Sun
Soil: Clay, Loam
Moisture: Moist but well drained
Garden type: Architectural, Coastal
Other characteristics: RHS Award of Garden Merit

Seasonal colors

How to plant Bhutan pine (Pinus wallichiana) – Willow, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How to plant

In this section we will learn how to plant Bhutan pine (Pinus wallichiana), know its needs in terms of soil, watering and sun exposure.

Soil

Bhutan pine (Pinus wallichiana) is a plant that prefers to grow in clay or loam.

• Clay soil is composed of more than 25 percent clay particles. These particles have a high moisture holding capacity and the soil is heavy to dig and can be waterlogged in winter (dry in summer).

• The loam soil is dark, rich in organic matter but balanced in minerals. It offers the best of all worlds, retaining enough water for the plants, but allowing excess moisture to drain away. This is the most desired type of garden soil, perfect for most plants.

It is not very sensitive to soil acidity or alkalinity and grows well in soils with pH acid, alkaline or neutral.

Regarding drainage, Pinus wallichiana likes to grow in moist but well drained soil.

Sunlight

Bhutan pine (Pinus wallichiana) should be grown in full sun places.

Cultivation profiles – Growing Bhutan pine (Pinus wallichiana) – Hladac, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons