Chir Pine / Indian Long leaf Pine Data Sheet

Common name: Chir pine
Latin name: Pinus Roxburghii
Genus: Pinus
Height: 50 m (164 ft)
Type: Evergreen
Hardiness: Zone 6–10
Conservation status: Least concern IUCN 3.1

Chir Pine Info

The Chir pine is a large to very large evergreen tree native to India, Pakistan and Nepal.

It can grow up to 50 m (164 ft) tall in extreme cases. Trunk diameter can exceed 10 feet.

The leaves are needle-like and around 20 - 35cm long with a green/yellow colour set on the branch in bundles of three. Pine cones are 4 - 9 inches long and 2 inches wide with a deep brown colour.

This is a prized tree for commercial wood production in East Asia for construction, the timber from this species is not the best and prone to decay. Also a winner for landscape use in hot, dry regions as it is very drought tolerant.

Growth Habit

Chir pine shoot growth usually starts in February and continues until September. Yearly height increases of 0.4–0.8 ft are common beyond season 2. If kept in the greenhouse, some growth will be observed year round.

These were sown this year. Plants are 3 - 5 inches tall.

Saplings are in pots. I recommend they are separated into their own 4" pots when you receive them. Growth rate is medium. Plants can be kept in a cool conservatory, windowsill or outside over the winter months.

Fully hardy off to minus 18°C or colder come autumn.

This species can live for 180 years.

These are really nice good chunky seedlings.

Care Instructions

Keep free from competing weeds and never allow to completely dry out. Water logging should also be avoided. Trees will perform best raised outdoors in full sunny position. The growth rate is medium and will soon need re-potting to beyond a 10" pot. Once the trees reach around 1 ft high they can be set in their final planting position.

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