Other Names:  Mountain Pine

Description:

This is a fairly small conifer tree closely related to the Mugo Pine; taller, broader and faster growing, otherwise very similar; extremely tolerant and adaptable, best used as a feature tree, or in groups for screening.

Ornamental Features

Swiss Mountain Pine is primarily valued in the landscape for its ornamental upright and spreading habit of growth. It has forest green evergreen foliage. The needles remain forest green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Swiss Mountain Pine is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen tree with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance tree. When pruning is necessary, it is recommended to only trim back the new growth of the current season, other than to remove any dieback. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Swiss Mountain Pine is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Windbreaks and Shelterbelts

Planting & Growing

Swiss Mountain Pine will grow to be about 13 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 7 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 2 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 50 years or more.

This tree should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America.