urbpan | 365 Urban Species. #059: European Black Pine

Urban species #059: European black pine Pinus nigra

European black pine, also called Austrian pine is hardy and stands up well to city conditions. The tree is often planted along parking lots and streets because it is tolerant of salt spray. It can be distinguished from white pine by its darker bark, its more bristly and upright needle bunches, and by the needles themselves, which are shorter and stiffer than white pine needles, and occur in clusters of two rather than five. Usually the lower branches are intact, while on white pine they are pruned off, or die from being shaded out.

In New England and the Great Lakes States, this tree has become naturalized. In the Great Lakes, there is some concern that black pine is having a negative effect on dune and island ecosystems.