Growth form: The umbrella pine is a slow growing tree with a conical crown with an average height of 30 feet. A well-drained open location with rich moist soil in direct sunlight is the preferred environment of this pine.
Leaves, twigs, and bark: The bark, usually hidden by dense foliage, is reddish-brown and exfoliates in strips. The needles are situated in a terminal whorl of 20 to 30 flat 2-5" dark glossy green, radiating around the stem.
Needles of Umbrella Pine #794 showing opposite leaf arrangement, entire margins, and elliptical shape. (Photo by A. Holmes 10/20/19)
Bark of Umbrella pine (Creative Commons Image, 2019)
Cones: The umbrella pine contains cones that are 2-4" long and 1-2" wide containing thick scales. A green cone is immature while a brown cone mature. (Creative Commons Image,2019)
Native range and habitat: Umbrella pine is a very slow growing pine native to rich, acidic soils in full sun. Its native range is Japan, however, this pine has been naturalized to the United States. The map below shows the vast range of umbrella pine hardiness zones throughout the United States.
Hardiness zone of umbrella pine throughout the United States (USDA Agricultural Research Service, 2012)
Plant Family: The Sciadopitys family makes up the majority of the gymnosperm group. These are vascular plants having seed that are not enclosed in an ovary. These seeds develop on the surface of cone scales or at the end of short stalks. Fun fact: "Gymnosperm" comes from the Greek word gymnospermos, meaning "naked seeds".
Ecologic Importance and Uses:
Edible and Medicinal Uses: There are no known edible or medicinal uses for the umbrella pine. An oil obtained from the wood is used for varnishes and dyes. An oil obtained from the wood is used for varnishes and dyes. The wood from this tree is soft, elastic, and water-resistant and often used in boat building.
Wildlife: The seeds from the cones of the umbrella pine provide food for many birds and wildlife animals.
Gardens and Landscaping: This tree is used for shade on a warm summer day or to provide wind protection. The trees bark is orange in color and peeling, is beautiful, but not commonly seen because it is hidden by the foliage of the tree. The tree is probably best used as a specimen. Hardiness zones for this tree can be seen on the map below.
Campus Specimens - Umbrella Pine
State and national champions? There are no State or National Champion trees listed for the umbrella pine. We will nominate this tree for state champion.
At Radford University, one umbrella pine can be found on campus (highlighted circle below). The umbrella pine sits on the front corner of Ingles Hall, facing Moffett quad.
Tree #794
Trunk circumference: 1.3 inches
Tree height: 34 feet
Crown spread: 5 feet x 5 feet Average = 5 feet
Total points: 50
References
North Carolina State Extension. (2019). Sciadopityaceae- verticillata.
The Plant List - A working list for all plant species. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.theplantlist.org/1.1/browse/G/Sciadopityaceae/.
USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). 2019. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA. http://plants.usda.gov.
US Federal Github. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.scribd.com/document/416741561/US-Federal-Github
Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation. (2019). Fringe Tree Fact Sheet, Virginia Tech Dendrology. dendro.cnre.vt.edu/DENDROLOGY/factsheets.cfm
Page created by: Angie Holmes, Radford University (2019).