Also known as Pine · 411 gardener saves
Pinus: the varieties gardeners actually grow
Pinus, the genus most gardeners know as pine. We track 24 varieties; these are the ones gardeners actually save and plant, ranked by real saves rather than catalog marketing. Each links to full care, bloom, and live price data.
The 12 most-saved Pinus varieties
Of 24 in the catalog — ordered by how many gardeners actually grow them.
#1 most savedGolden Ghost Pine
Pinus densiflora 'Golden Ghost'
#2 most savedEastern White Pine
Pinus strobus
#3 most savedThunderhead Japanese Black Pine
Pinus thunbergii 'Thunderhead'
Mugo Pine
Pinus mugo 'Slowmound'
Vanderwolf's Pyramid Limber Pine
Pinus flexilis 'Vanderwolf'
Japanese White Pine
Pinus parviflora 'Glauca'
Scots Pine
Pinus sylvestris
Domingo Limber Pine
Pinus flexilis 'Domingo'
Virginia Pine
Pinus virginiana
Mugo Pine
Pinus mugo
Pitch Pine
Pinus rigida
Japanese Black Pine
Pinus thunbergii
Browse all 24 Pinus varieties →
How to grow Pinus
What the Pinus varieties in our catalog actually agree on — drawn from the care records of the 24 most-grown of them, not from a generic template.
The Pinus year
- PlantFebruary, March, April, September and October83% of varieties
Plant in spring or fall in any sunny, well-drained spot.
- Check for PestsApril–June63% of varieties
Inspect needles for scale insects and sawfly larvae.
- PruneFebruary and May58% of varieties
Pinch or candle prune new growth in spring to control size and increase density.
Do
- Allow soil to dry out between waterings once established.
- Water deeply but infrequently once established.
- Give it plenty of sun for dense growth.
- Provide full, all-day sun.
- Provide at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily.
Avoid
- Avoid planting in deep shade, which leads to sparse growth.
- Do not plant in shade or poorly drained soil.
- Avoid overwatering, which can lead to root rot.
- Don't fertilize; it prefers lean soil.
What goes wrong with Pinus
| Problem | What you'll see | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Pine Needle Scale | Small, white, oyster-shell shaped scales on needles, causing yellowing. | Apply dormant horticultural oil in late winter. Use insecticides when crawlers are active. |
| Pine Sawflies | Caterpillar-like larvae feeding in groups, rapidly stripping needles. | Hand-pick or spray with insecticidal soap or spinosad when larvae are small. |
| Pine Sawfly | Groups of caterpillar-like larvae that can rapidly defoliate branches. | Hand-pick or spray with insecticidal soap or spinosad when larvae are small. |
| Southern Pine Beetle | S-shaped galleries under the bark, small holes with pitch tubes, reddish-brown crown. | Prevention is key; keep trees healthy. Remove and destroy infested trees. Insecticides are preventative only. |
| Diplodia Tip Blight | Stunted, brown new growth (candles) that die back. Black fungal structures may be visible. | Prune and destroy infected tips. Apply preventative fungicides as new growth emerges. |
| Dothistroma Needle Blight | Yellow to tan spots on needles, which then turn brown from the tip down, premature needle drop. | Increase air circulation. Rake and destroy fallen needles. Apply copper-based fungicides in spring as new needles are emerging. |
| White Pine Blister Rust | Swollen cankers on branches that ooze resin, yellowing of needles, and branch dieback. Requires an alternate host (Ribes species). | Prune out and destroy infected branches. Remove any currant or gooseberry bushes (Ribes) within 1000 feet. No chemical cure. |
Making more Pinus
Seed
- Collect seeds from cones in fall.
- Provide a period of cold, moist stratification for 60-90 days.
- Sow seeds in a well-draining mix.
- Be aware that offspring will be variable in size and habit.
Grafting
- Collect scion wood from 'Thunderhead' in late winter.
- Use 2-year-old Pinus thunbergii seedlings as rootstock.
- Perform a side-veneer graft near the base of the rootstock.
- Wrap the union with grafting tape and wax.
- Keep in a humid greenhouse until the graft takes, typically 8-12 weeks.
Pinus questions
How many types of Pinus are there?
The Sow catalog tracks 24 distinct Pinus varieties. The most popular — ranked by 411 real gardener saves — are shown first above.
What zones does Pinus grow in?
Across its varieties, Pinus covers USDA Zones 4–10. Individual varieties differ — each plant page lists its exact range, and Sow filters the catalog to your zone automatically.
When does Pinus bloom?
Most Pinus varieties bloom in spring, mid-spring, late spring. Staggering early, mid, and late varieties extends the genus's season in one bed.
Which Pinus should I choose?
Start from the most-saved varieties above — popularity across thousands of gardens is a strong signal of reliability — then filter by your zone and sun. In the Sow app you can preview any of them in a photo of your actual yard before you buy.
Keep exploring
More on Pinus
Pinus shows up in
By hardiness zone
Related genera
Design with Pinus in your own yard
Snap a photo of your space and see these varieties planted in it — sized correctly, matched to your zone, with care reminders included.
