Austrian Pine

Pinus nigra

Pinaceae · coniferous tree · introduced

Last updated May 11, 2026

Pinus nigra (Pinaceae) is a large two-needled pine native to the Mediterranean region and the Balkans. It grows to 120 feet tall with a dense, broadly pyramidal crown and dark, deeply furrowed bark. The stiff, dark green needles (3 to 6 inches) are held in pairs.

Austrian pine is widely planted as a landscape and windbreak tree due to its tolerance of urban conditions, salt, drought, and a range of soil types including clay and alkaline substrates. It grows in full sun. The species is susceptible to Diplodia tip blight and Dothistroma needle blight, which have caused significant decline in some regions. Hardy in Zones 4a to 8b.

Quick Facts

Height

120 ft

Spread

26 ft

Growth Rate

Moderate

Light

Full Sun

Soil

Well Drained

Water

Moderate

Hardiness

Zone Zones 4a–8b

Bloom Time

Non-flowering

Origin

TEMPERATE ASIA: Cyprus, Turkey EUROPE: Austria

Damping-offHigh

Spring Sowing - Preemergence Damping-off Risk

Twig BlightHigh

Spring Spore Release

Eriophyid miteHigh

Spring Dispersal & Bud Invasion

Pine needle scaleHigh

Crawler Emergence

+ 4 more — see full disease and pest lists below

Phenological Calendar

Stage	Typical Window	What to Look For
Candle elongation BBCH 11	Feb 15-Mar 15	Pale, elongating shoots (candles) covered in papery scale leaves. Two stiff dark green needles per fascicle emerge as candle extends
Pollen release BBCH 61	May 1-May 31	Male strobili usually clustered at base of current year's candles; yellow pollen visible
Pollen shed complete BBCH 69	May 15-Jun 15	Female conelets (small, reddish or purple) visible at shoot tips after pollination
Cone development (year 1-2) BBCH 71	Jun 1-Aug 31	Cones elongate. Two-needle fascicles characteristic. Cones mature over second year
Cone maturity and seed shed BBCH 85	Sep 1-Nov 30	Woody cones 5-8 cm long with small prickles on scales; scales spread to release winged seeds

Diseases: Regionally Documented (24)

Endocronartium harknessii Western Gall Rust Cronartium ribicola White Pine Blister Rust Phytophthora spp. (P Phytophthora Root Rot Lophodermium spp. Lophodermium Needle Cast Lophodermella concolor Lophodermella Needle Cast Elytroderma deformans Elytroderma Needle Cast Arceuthobium spp. (parasitic plant) Dwarf Mistletoe Armillaria spp. — primarily A Armillaria Root Rot Symptom category — not a single disease Canker Cyclaneusma minus Cyclaneusma Needle Cast Several soilborne Damping-off Dothistroma septosporum (and/or D Dothistroma Needle Blight (Red Band) Gray Mold Heterobasidion occidentale Otrosina & Garbel Heterobasidion Root Disease In most Hypocotyl Rot and Root Rot Davisomycella medusa Medusa Needle Blight Rhabdocline spp. including R Needle Cast Needle Rusts Bursaphelenchus xylophilus Pine Wilt Excess sodium chloride Salt Damage Sirococcus conigenus Sirococcus Shoot Blight Fomitopsis officinalis, Porodaedalea pini, and other wood... Stem Decay Diaporthe vaccinii or Diplodia tip blight agents Tip Blight Multiple fungal species cause twig blight on different ho... Twig Blight

Pests: Regionally Documented (18)

Eriophyidae Eriophyid mite Pineus strobi Pine bark adelgid Dioryctria spp. Coneworm Pine Aphid Pissodes strobi White pine weevil Tetranychidae Spider mite Synanthedon sequoiae Sequoia pitch moth Pine Needle Sheathminer Pine Sheath Miner Chionaspis pinifoliae Pine needle scale Pine Butterfly Coloradia pandora Pandora moth Dendroctonus ponderosae Mountain pine beetle Rhyacionia buoliana European pine shoot moth Nuculaspis californica Black pineleaf scale Neodiprion spp. Pine sawfly Eulachnus agilis Powdery pine needle aphid Otiorhynchus spp. Root weevil Schizolachnus piniradiatae Woolly pine needle aphid

Cultivars (4)

'Black Prince'

Common name: Black Prince Austrian Pine; Mature height: 4 ft

Hardy to USDA Zone 4

'Moseri'

Common name: Moseri Austrian Pine; Mature height: 5 ft

Hardy to USDA Zone 4

'Oregon Green'

Common name: Oregon Green Austrian Pine; Mature height: 10–12 ft

Hardy to USDA Zone 5

'Arnold Sentinel'

Data Maturity

Structured Multiple sources. Expert review underway.