Tree native to the highlands of Mexico. It does not stand long periods of temperatures as low as –10C, but resists occasional brief below zero dips. It is moderately drought-tolerant, in this scope is superior than Pinus taeda.
It has been introduced near sea level in New South Wales, Australia, where it spreads naturally by wind and is very favored because rainfalls are more abundant in summer. It was also introduced in New Zealand for commercial purposes and is fully naturalized there. It is cultivated in the United Kingdom as an ornamental tree for parks and gardens, and has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
The timber is pale-pink to salmon, moderately soft, brittle and smelling strongly of aniseed when freshly cut.
Genus - Pinus
Species - Patula
Common name - Mexican weeping pine
Pre-Treatment - Required
Hardiness zones - 8 - 10
Height - 164' (50 m)
Plant type - Tree
Vegetation type - Evergreen
Exposure - Full Sun
Growth rate - Medium
Soil PH - Acidic, Neutral
Soil type - Light (sandy), medium (loamy), heavy (clay)
Water requirements - Drought tolerant, average water
Landscape uses - Woodland Garden Canopy; Sunny Edge
Germination rate - 85%
Leaf / Flower color - Green / --
Useful Info | |
Germination | 1. Place the seeds in a container with tepid water and soak them for 24 hours. Change the water and wait another 24 hours. 2. Put the seeds in a small plastic bag and cover with damp sand. Place the bag holding the seeds in the refrigerator for one to two months to stratify the seeds, which is preserving seeds in layers of moisture-laden peat, soil or sand. Check the sand and water as needed to maintain moisture. Don't allow the seeds to get soaked. 3. Fill small pots with compost. Place one or two pine seeds on top of the compost in each pot, then cover the seeds with a thin layer of sand. 4. Water the sand and compost to add moisture, then place the pots in a warm, sunny location. As the seedlings emerge and grow, the soil needs to remain moist, not wet. 5. Repot the pine trees into medium-sized pots in the fall. Grow them in the pots for the following season until they are large and strong enough for transplanting into the landscape. |