Japanese Black Pine

Pinus thunbergii

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 5a-8b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Coniferous Evergreen Tree

Height at Maturity: 20-60′, can be kept shorter with annual pruning

Width at Maturity: 10-20′

Spacing: 8-10′ apart for privacy screens; 25’+ for space between trees

Growth Habit / Form: Upright, Pyramidal, Irregular

Growth Rate: Slow to Medium

Flower Color: NA

Flower Size: NA

Flowering Period: NA

Flower Type: NA

Fragrant Flowers: No

Foliage Color: Dark Green

Fragrant Foliage: Yes

Berries: No

Berry Color: NA

Sun Needs: Full Sun or Mostly Sun

Water Needs: Low when established

Soil Type: Clay (Amended), Loam, Sandy (Amended), Silty

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Moist But Well-Drained

Soil pH: 5.0 – 7.0 (Acid to Neutral)

Maintenance / Care: Very Low

Attracts: Visual Attention

Resistances: Deer – more info, Disease, Drought, Dry Soil, Insect, Salt

Description

A highly attractive and unusual pine with an irregular form and horizontal branches, the Black Pine can be grown along the coast or inland. Near the coast, where it is exceptionally tolerant to sandy, salty soil and salt spray much better than our native pines, it is a smaller tree to maybe 20 feet tall. Inland it can reach 60 feet or more in height under ideal conditions. In addition to it’s unique form, one of the most interesting features of the Black Pine are the attractive white buds that form at the ends of the stems and contrast nicely with the deep green mature needles. These buds then grow to form taller cream color “candles” that eventually become the new branches. These candles can be pruned by up to 50 percent of their length to control the size of the tree and produce a more dense form. Also, branches can be selectively removed from the tree to form very interesting and unique topiary forms. The dark grey, deeply grooved bark of the tree contrasts nicely with the deep green needles providing even more interest to an already very interesting tree.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing 20 to 60 feet tall (depending on location and pruning) and maybe half as wide, the Japanese Black Pine is ideal for use as a specimen, in groupings or mass plantings, or as a tall hedge or privacy screen in landscape borders. Can also be useful to frame the corners of tall homes and other structures. With pruning you can create endless interesting topiary forms for use as eye-catching focal point specimens in the landscape. Its high tolerance to sandy and salty soil and slat spray make the Japanese Black Pine a perfect choice for seaside plantings. Also a fine addition to Asian theme and conifer gardens and is suitable for growing in large pots.

Suggested Spacing: 8 to 10 feet apart for privacy screens; 25 or more feet apart for space between trees

Growing Preferences

Though drought tolerant when established, the Japanese Black Pine grows best in a moist but well-drained fertile soil in full sun but will tolerate some light afternoon shade. Has high tolerance to sand and salty soil and salt spray. As with so many other ornamental trees, constantly soggy soil can cause problems with the roots. Does not require pruning however can be trimmed annually in late winter to maintain a smaller plant or for very interesting topiary forms.

Helpful Articles

Click on the link below to find helpful planting and care advice from our experts.

How To Prune Junipers & Other Conifers

Plant Long & Prosper!

Meet The Wilson Brothers & Staff

Questions? Contact Us

Good afternoon,
We received the little tree today and it is beautiful. Trying to decide on a place in the yard to plant it.
Thank you.——————————————————————-We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

We ordered 2 Japanese black pines and they were in fantastic shape when they arrived. Both were about 3 feet tall not including the root ball and have plenty of branching and candles. They were beautifully cultivated. We have tried other online sellers of Japanese black pines and related plants with mixed results, but these definitely exceeded our expectations and will have us shopping with Wilson Bros again.———————————-We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the great review! Thanks for the kind words! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Received a very large, healthy,and well formed tree…
Would definitely buy more, and recommend to a friend…
Excellent packing and shipping speed.—————————————Thanks for the kind words! We are so glad you are pleased with your purchase! Thanks for the great review! Beth | WBG 🙂

It is a awesome looking tree. Great job!!—————————————————————We are so glad you are pleased with your purchase! Thanks for the great review! Beth | WBG 🙂

The 3 gallon Japanese black pine that i received was beautiful. A well branched and very healthy looking tree. The shipment was delayed for 5 days due to post office backups but it arrived still moist and well packed.—————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

I ordered two Japanese Black Pines after receiving an email that they were back in stock. I am happy to say that they arrived quickly, were very well packed, and the plants looked great. My daughter has already planted the one I got for her and I am still picking the perfect spot for mine.—————————————-We are so glad you and your daughter are pleased and we hope you both enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

I didn’t know what to expect, but wow I’m surprised. This tree will be the first addition to my Japanese garden landscape. I see no scars where cut my have been made, and there’s plenty of lower branching if needed. I’ll be ordering from Wilson Bros Gardens again for sure!!——————-We are so glad you are pleased with your purchase! Thanks for the great review! Beth | WBG 🙂

I’m not a fan of shipped trees – they usually arrive in poor condition, damaged or in bad shape – I reluctantly purchased a Japanese Black Pine to be shipped from Wilson Bros in GA to WA -absolutely couldn’t find a decent size any other place – the tree arrived in perfect shape even though the shippers didn’t pay attention to the package upright arrows – the 4-5″” new candle growth on the tree arrived in perfect condition – I have purchased shipped trees before which arrived in a variety of conditions – from ok to bad – Wilson Bros packaging is superior to any other I’ve experienced – decent sized Black Pines are impossible to find – Wilson Bros are the preeminent growers/shippers of my experience – thank you for superior customer service and my gorgeous tree – if you have hesitated to purchase a shipped tree/plant – “go for it” these guys are the best!———————————Hi Joyce, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Japanese Black Pine. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! We truly appreciate the wonderful review!! 🙂
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens