Scots pine

The Caledonian Pine Forest, in the Highlands of Scotland, is the only true native pine forest in Britain and the Scots pine is the dominant tree. It is a hardy tree and is also found across northern Europe and Asia.

What other names does it have?

Can also be known as	Scots fir Guithais (Gaelic) Ochtach (Old Irish) Giumais (Irish)
Generic name	Pine
Latin name	Pinus sylvestris
Family name	Pine
Latin family name	Pinaceae

What type of tree is it?

Is it a broadleaf or conifer?	It is a conifer
Does it lose its leaves in autumn?	No, it is evergreen

Species description:

Average height	12-36m

Leaf

Description	The thick slightly twisted needles are in pairs. The needles are longer on young plants and shorter on old ones
Shape	Needle
Size	Around 9cm long
Colour	Dark green-grey
Leaf bud	The buds have papery-white scales
Leaf stalk	No stalk
Leaf arrangement	In bunches

Flower, seed, and fruit

Type of flower	Other
Flowering season	May - June
Tree/flower sex	Both sexes
Fruit colour	Green maturing to brown
Type of seed body	Cone
Seeds dispersed by	Wind

Bark and twig

Bark description	Characteristic orange brown scales when young. Then distinctively deeply fissured with age
Twig Description	Green-brown in colour and hairless

Where is it usually found?

Is it native or non-native to the British Isles?	Native
Where is its natural range?	Now restricted to parts of Scotland although it does regenerate from seed across most of the UK
Preferred soil type or environmental conditions?	Thrives on mineral soil and sand low in nutrients. Grows well on almost any other soil type except chalk
What is its British conservation status?	Common

Additional information

Human uses of tree and timber

The timber of the Scots pine is one of the strongest softwoods and is widely used in the construction industry and joinery. It is used for telegraph poles, pit props, gate posts, fencing etc. The tree can also be tapped for its resin, from which turpentine is made. Other products from pine have been rope from the inner bark, tar from the roots and a reddish-brown dye from the cones. The dry cones are also a good kindling for fires.

Tree lore and folklore

Despite its long history and use by people there is little folklore attached to the Scots pine. Some writers such as Wordsworth described it as one of the most attractive trees and there is some history of spiritual significance which can be traced back to Celtic times It is thought that in England, scots pines were planted around farmsteads as windbreaks, whilst clusters of pines situated along the old droveways provided a means of navigation in inclement weather

Upper bark reddish, lower bark variable

Showing young cone

Closed cone

Upper bark

Illustrations supplied by
Collins

BritishTrees