Hortiforum

General Info – Italian Stone Pine, Umbrella Pine, Parasol Pine

An iconic symbol of the Mediterranean, the Italian Stone Pine has been cultivated since prehistoric times for its tasty nuts and continues to be appreciated today for its superb ornamental form.
Extracted from the iconic, large brown cones, Pine Nuts have been harvested for millennia across the Mediterranean for their delicious, buttery, and slightly resinous flavour. They are a versatile ingredient, excellent when toasted and added to salads, pasta, used as a garnish, or made into the famous pesto. Plants will begin producing within six years, yielding abundant masses of nuts once mature.
Stone Pines are notable hardy, being tolerant of strong winds, drought, and salt exposure. Being native to the Mediterranean, Stone Pine tolerate both harsh, dry summer heat and frosty, cold winters. Prefer full sun exposure and slightly acidic, sandy loam soils, requiring minimal maintenance. While partially self-pollinating, fruit set and subsequent harvests will be greatly increased with cross-pollination.
Italian Stone Pines are among the most picturesque pines, with their majestic shape, clumping foliage of evergreen needles, and red-brown, fissured trunk. Stone Pines natural shape themselves, dropping lower branches to develop their iconic, stunning umbrella appearance, hence the name “Umbrella Pine.” In its umbrella shape, it provides shade and beauty while allowing for space at the base of the plant. Reaching up to 20 metres tall with a spreading crown, the Italian Stone Pine can serve as the ornamental centerpiece of a garden. New growth has an attractive bluish tinge. Flowering occurs through female and male cones, which are wind-pollinated. Almonds and Pistachios are also viable in Mediterranean and arid climates, but will not develop a beautiful evergreen form like Stone Pines.
Stone Pines impart a palpable Mediterranean feel to gardens and offer a harvest of delightful, flavorful nuts with minimal requirements.

Plant Profile/Properties