Northwest Palms

Growing Pinus Pinea in the pacific northwest

I was in Italy this last winter and fell in love with the Italian Stone Pine. I live just a bit northeast of Seattle in Sunset climate zone 5 and I read that they typically prefer 8 or warmer. I wonder, if I grew this tree as a container plant inside during the winter until it was about 8 ft. tall and then transplanted it into the ground outside, maybe it would be sufficiently hardy to survive one of our harsher winters outside at that point? Does anyone think that my plan would work? Has anyone tried to grow these beautiful trees in the pacific northwest?

The following thread was started by Andrew on May 09, 2008 at 12:15 am PST

it should be fine. I had one I left out in a pot with no protection 3 years ago and it went through two winters without damage. I moved and left it at the old house, so who knows what happened to it.

The above followup was added by Brian, Maple Valley, WA on May 09, 2008 at 8:35 pm PST.

It might survive inside just fine but that does not mean it will be more cold hardy. My guess is that it will have less energy from getting lower light indoors and would not be able to withstand a freeze as effectively as a plant that was grown hard in a marginally temperate area. But, like so many things we do it's worth a try!

The above followup was added by JeffB in Fairwood on May 09, 2008 at 8:42 pm PST.

i kinda dissagree with JeffB because i think the more mature a plant is, the hardier it becomes. you wouldnt plant baby sago sucker out side in seattle and hope it survies. you would obviousaly wait untill the plant was mature and was big enough to store energy to with stand stressfull conditions. i consider that zone pushing at its best. you take a plant that is not native... would never reproduse by its slef and the seedlings would have no chance at survival in the wild. but you could take a mature specimen and plant it, and it would more than likely fair way better then the younger plant.
so in my opinion you should bring it in side untill it matures some and it should fair better when older. when it comes time to plant it out perminatly i suggest to plant it in late spring, to give it time to harden off as the weather changes but giving it a growing season.

The above followup was added by Aron on May 09, 2008 at 9:03 pm PST.

I have 3 two year old Pinus pinea that I will plant out when they are a bit bigger, one in a warmer spot up the coast and one here in Vancouver. I got a suggestion that the zone rating for them is 8b not quite Vancouver but weelworth a try.

The above followup was added by kay on May 09, 2008 at 9:25 pm PST.

These things are frequently sold as indoor Christmas trees, and one was planted outside on 29th. Avenue in Spokane a number of years ago, and grew to about 5 feet before disappearing...I don't know why, but the yard had been given a minor make-over and perhaps the pine didn't suit the homeowners. For the most part, winter damage was limited to minor needle burn. I'm sure it saw temperatures near 0F a few times, but only after a lot of summer heat.

The above followup was added by Michael In Spokane on May 09, 2008 at 9:55 pm PST.

Baby Italian Stone Pines might freeze if the temeprature drops to, say, 10F. Mature trees are hardy to at least 0F. There are examples of mature specimens in various parts of the Pacific Northwest and not always immediately by the water. There is a huge one at the Arboretum in Seattle that has survived all our coldest winters. Also, I planted a small seedling about 6" tall back in 1996 at my parents garden in Olympia. It lived through the December 1998 freeze and all other winters since then undamaged and continues to thrive.

Its true that certain plants are more likely to survive cold winters if planted at a larger size, but comparing Pinus pinea to a sago doesn't work for me because one plant is long term hardy here and the other isn't even close.

Long story short..... I would plant this one out and not worry about it.

The above followup was added by Ian on May 10, 2008 at 7:04 am PST.

This is a picture of 4 large trees in my property in Hillsboro. Beautiful trees. If you want an even prettier pine with equally delicious nuts try the native Digger pine (Pinus sabiniana sp???). Digger pine is harder to grow in PNW than Pinus pinea. P. pinea is shown in the background with rounded tops. I planted these trees in March 1996,

The above followup was added by Marc Camargo on May 10, 2008 at 7:23 am PST.

>>Digger pine is harder to grow in PNW than Pinus pinea.

No it's not, there are big ones in gardens all over the place up here. I've seen them in Olympia, Seattle, Bremerton, Sequim, you name it. There is even a native population of them in southwest Oregon.

The above followup was added by Ian on May 10, 2008 at 9:50 pm PST.

Thanks everyone for your input. I'm going to stick one of these in the ground and see how it does. Does anybody know, are these pretty easy to find in nurseries in the greater Seattle area?

I'm also looking foreward to giving some Mediterranean flavor to my yard by planting a Eucalyptus pauciflora 'niphophila', Olea europaea 'Arbequina' Olive Tree, Acacia dealbata subalpina, and three citrus trees that will winter indoors. Has anyone had any luck with any of these? Thanks.

The above followup was added by Andrew on May 10, 2008 at 11:00 pm PST.

I've got an Arbequina. It does well. GIve it sun and good drainage. Many of us have various kinds of citrus. This is a big topic. I have Meiwa kumquat, Meyer Lemon, calamondin, Owari Mandarin Orange, Flying Dragon and regular Poncirus trifoliata, 10 degree tangerine, yuzu,and Ichang lemon. Almost all sheltered in winter.
John S
PDX OR

The above followup was added by John S on May 11, 2008 at 10:41 pm PST.