Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris)

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) 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 Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris).

This plant has several common names including: Scots pine, Archangel redwood, Baltic redwood, bish apples, European turpentine, Norway fir, red deal, Scotch fir, Scots fir, Scotch pine or yellow deal.

This is a evergreen plant that takes 20-50 years to reach full maturity.

Plant profile

Common name: Scots pine, Archangel redwood, Baltic redwood, bish apples, European turpentine, Norway fir, red deal, Scotch fir, Scots fir, Scotch pine, yellow deal
Scientific name: Pinus sylvestris
Plant type: Conifers, Trees
Habit: Columnar / Upright
Height: Higher than 15m
Spread: Wider than 8 metres
Foliage: Evergreen
Sunlight: Full Sun
Soil: Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Moisture: Well drained
Garden type: Coastal, Wildlife Gardens
Planting type: Hedging & Screens, Low Maintenance

Seasonal colors

How to plant Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) – Dominicus Johannes Bergsma, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How to plant

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

Soil

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) is a plant that adapts to all types of soils, chalk, clay, loam or sand.

• The chalky soil is pale and contains chunks of calcium-rich rock. It is a fertile and well-draining soil, almost always alkaline.

• 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.

• Sandy soil is light, porous and very easy to drain. It is a soil poor in organic matter and nutrients. It is composed of relatively large mineral particles that allow water to drain quickly.

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

Regarding drainage, Pinus sylvestris likes to grow in well drained soil.

Sunlight

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) should be grown in full sun places.

Cultivation profiles – Growing Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) – Arnstein Rønning, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons