An upright evergreen conifer from the northwestern Himalayas and closely related to Pinus bungeana.
Forms a slow-growing tree with glossy green needles.
Prune to reveal the outstanding exfoliating bark.
Chilgoza Pine is well known for its edible pine nuts, rich in carbohydrates and proteins. Used like a pistachio nuts. The seeds are locally called and marketed as "Chilgoza", "Neja" or "Neje". Nearly 20 percent of the Pakistani forests consist of Chilgoza trees. Chilgoza is one of the most important cash crops of tribal people residing in the Kinnaurdistrict of Himachal Pradesh, India.The seed is very expensive and fetches good money to the local people in Kinnaur. (wikipedia.org)
Genus - Pinus
Species - Gerardiana
Common name - Chilgoza Pine
Pre-Treatment - Not-required
Hardiness zones - 7 - 9
Height - 10 - 20 m
Spread - 9 - 15 m
Plant type - Tree
Vegetation type - Evergreen
Exposure - Full Sun
Growth rate - Slow
Soil PH - Acidic, Neutral
Soil type - Sandy, loamy, clay
Water requirements - Average, drought tolerant
Landscape uses - Decorative for mass plantings, edible seeds
Germination rate - 60%
Leaf / Flower color - Green to blue-green / --