Pinus eldarica     
Afghan pine   
Pinaceae Family     

Form: symmetrical pine tree, somewhat more rounded with age
Seasonality: evergreen
Size: 30-50ft, spread 15-25ft; rapid growth rate
Leaves: needles, sheath of 2, longer than P. halepensis
Flowers: not significant
Fruit: cones with true cone shape, 5-6in long
Stems/Trunks: true central leader trunk
Range/Origin: Russia, Afghanistan, Pakistan
Hardiness: low teens to single digits

LANDSCAPE VALUE:

• specimen
• attractive in groups
• wind break
• increasingly popular for Christmas trees
• on the large size of residential scale

CULTURAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Exposure: full sun
• Water: moderate; best with infrequent but deep watering; water availability will determine growth rate
• Soil: tolerant, best in uniform
• Propagation: seed
• Maintenance: low, some needle cleanup

Pinus eldarica

NOTES:

aka Desert pine, Elder pine
growth rate 3-6ft per year
needles are longer than P. Halepensis, shorter than P. canarensis