Scots Pine

Scots pine is the pine with the orange bark, the upper trunk and major branches developing a warm, coppery-orange color that glows in low winter light and stands out against the blue-green, twisted needles. It is the most widely distributed pine in the world, native from Scotland to Siberia and south through Europe and into Turkey. In the landscape, it grows forty to sixty feet with an open, often irregular crown that develops a characterful, picturesque form with age, no two mature Scots pines look alike.

In Western Washington, Scots pine tolerates a wide range of soils and conditions, including drought, poor soil, and urban stress. The distinctive bark color is the primary ornamental feature and becomes more prominent with age. Several diseases and pests are tracked, including Diplodia tip blight and pine wilt nematode. The species is not long-lived compared to native pines, fifty to seventy years in the landscape is typical. 'Watereri' is a slow-growing, compact form useful where a smaller pine is needed. For a characterful, orange-barked pine with a European heritage and genuine toughness, Scots pine adds a distinctive presence to larger landscapes.