Austrian Pine Tree

For a fat and fluffy ornamental evergreen tree, that adds seclusion and are important parts of native restoration efforts, the Austrian Pine (Pinus nigra) is a wonderfully dense selection that works hard! Its year-round good looks are an added bonus!

There are many advantages to selecting this dark green variety, which is why the Austrian is also known as European Black Pine. Established young Austrian Pines can add 3 feet or more of new growth in a season! This fast growth rate has helped these Pine trees gain popularity.

With plenty of strong branches holding their long, dark needles all year long, you'll always be looking at a beautiful tree. The spreading branches of a young tree form a fat pyramidal outline. As the plants age, they become more rounded or flat-topped and develop lots of character with interesting bark and interesting form. The Austrian Pine brings a tremendous amount of character to a landscape while creating bird habitat and home for many beneficial insects.

The orange-yellow pollen-bearing male cones and the reddish female cones appear in the spring and by fall, the egg-shaped cones appear for your winter decor, and for the birds and squirrels! Wonderfully cold-tolerant and hardy native evergreens throughout many US states and Growing Zones 3 to 8. The growth slows as the tree matures, topping out at 40-50 feet in height with a wide 25-35 foot spreading base.

Planting and Application:

The strong evergreen branches of the Austrian Pine will screen undesirable views and protect your home from strong winds. These are fantastic evergreens for urban roadways and interchanges. They are salt tolerant and able to withstand dry conditions.

The 5-6" long needles absorb a lot of noise and vibrations and are good plants to include along sound barriers. Use Austrian Pines for privacy, windbreaks, or shelterbelts. Their ability to block the wind - in combination with road salt tolerance - has put them at the forefront for roadway plantings, hiding that ugly view you hate so much.

They will block unsightly views or the wind across a residential yard. Don't forget that those long needles are great at absorbing sound from trains and busy streets! Stop snow from drifting onto your driveway or against your home by installing a snow barrier that includes these great trees!

Follow the old farmer's trick of planting a staggered - or zig-zagged - row of Austrian Pines to block the prevailing winds that blast your property. For a full screen of mature-sized trees, you'll measure at least 10 feet between the trunk of each tree. You can vary the spacing for a more natural look, however, if you want the tips of the trees to overlap slightly - don't plant more than 20 feet apart.

Austrian Pines do not need to be planted in straight rows, either. To create a natural look, vary the spacing between trees. Create small groups of trees placed a bit closer together. Plant some closer and some further away. You can work magic in your landscape with some thoughtful planning.

After all, even a hard-working windbreak can serve dual purposes. Austrian Pines make a nice backdrop for other flowering trees and shrubs to really set them off. Contrast the bold shape with more delicate forms, such as native Redbud, Chaste Tree, or Weeping Cherry. Or mix with other broad-leaved evergreens for year-round greenery. Fine-textured Birch trees pair beautifully with this tree. And you can imagine how great it would be to add another long row of Lilacs in front of them. Heavenly!

Why not plan to have a gazebo, or hammock stand nestled in the mix? Add an "off-grid" Tipi or Yurt for a fun destination spot on your property. Include a fire pit at least 30 feet away and create a year-round Staycation Paradise.

You can also use Austrian Pine as a single specimen, looking beautiful in either a restful, Japanese-style Zen garden look or a rustic homestead ranch. Include a large boulder or two and create a magnificent focal point. Add a kinetic sculpture that moves in the wind or install a water feature and you've got something wonderful to look at all year long.

• Dark Green Needles
• Pretty Pyramidal to Fat Egg Shape
• Versatile Specimens & Dense Evergreen Screens
• Long Needles Blocks Wind & Absorb Sound from Roads & Railroads
• Shade, Wildlife, Snow Barriers, & Privacy

#ProPlantTips for Care:

You'll appreciate how adaptable the native Austrian Pine is to a variety of environmental conditions. This tree is hardy, and it thrives in urban locations. It will tolerate limestone or acidic soils, dry rocky locations and windy conditions! Give them plenty of sun, at least 6 hours a day. The more sun, the better the performance.

They display wonderful adaptability and this durable evergreen tree will thrive in any well-drained soil, including clay soils. Water them regularly as you establish the plants, and deep winter watering in colder climates. Once their roots are established in your soil, Austrian Pines grow in areas that are quite dry and will display drought tolerance. However, in times of prolonged drought, it's a good idea to provide supplemental deep watering and a 3-4 inch deep layer of mulch to avoid stressing the tree.

Each fall, the oldest needles turn yellow and drop from the plant. This is normal and should happen each fall. Use the needles as mulch for acid-loving partner plants! It's best to leave the Austrian Pine branched right to the ground. Little pruning is required unless you want to shorten up the new growth when the plants are younger. To create a dense and uniform outline, try candle pruning in spring.

A biyearly spray of Bonide Copper Fungicide Concentrate can be applied in mid-May and mid-June. Nature Hills uses PlantSentry™ to track all federal, state and local regulations for plant materials. We do this to protect communities across the United States.

• Fast Growing in Full Sun
• Widely Adaptable In Well-Drained Soil
• Moderate Moisture Needs
• Candle Prune In The Spring
• Road Salt Tolerant

Order your Austrian Pine today! You'll love this important partner in your landscape improvement projects. As part of an overall tree diversification strategy, this tree makes a magnificent contribution widely throughout many states in the US.

We recommend sizing up when possible. When you order the largest trees we have in stock, you'll get an enormous head start on that privacy you crave. Order today at Nature Hills!