Pinus thunbergii 'Thunderhead'

RHS Plant Profile

Japanese black pine 'Thunderhead'

Trees Conifers

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A compact, evergreen, coniferous tree, which produces an irregular, billowing, cloud-shaped canopy when mature, reaching about 3m (10ft) high and 1.5m (5ft) across after ten years. It has a open, branching habit. The needles are produced in bunches of two at the tips of the stems and are around 12cm (5in) long. They are glossy green in colour. It can produce oval-shaped, brown cones, that taper to a point at the tips and are up to 7cm (3in) long. The tree withstands exposed, coastal positions extremely well and its relatively small size, means it is an excellent choice for a small, city or courtyard garden, where an architectural, or evergreen focal point is needed

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

4-8 metres

Max Spread

1.5-2.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 20–50 years
Max Spread: 1.5-2.5 metres
Max Height: 4-8 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H7
Drought Resistance: Yes

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Pinaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Columnar upright
Genus: Pinus can be shrubs or large, evergreen trees, some species with attractive bark, developing an irregular outline with age and bearing long needle-like leaves in bundles of 2, 3 or 5; conspicuous cones may fall or remain on the tree for years
Name Status: Not established

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in well-drained, preferably neutral to acidic soil in full sun

Propagation

Propagate by grafting

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Coastal
Low Maintenance

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to adelgids, conifer aphid, sawfly larvae, and pine shoot moth

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus and needle cast diseases