Pinus nigra | Maud Gordon Holmes Arboretum | SUNY Buffalo State College

A particularly magnificent Austrian pine stands outside of Perry Hall.

The needles and cones of an Austrian pine.

A closeup of a developing Austrian pine cone, covered in a thin, waxy coating.

A closeup of Austrian pine bark, showing shades of grey, brown, and tan.

Scientific name: Pinus nigra

Common name: Austrian Pine

Native: No

Native range: It is native to Europe, but is widely planted in North America. Naturalized populations exist in New England and around the Great Lakes [1,2,3,4].

Distribution in North America: Click to view the USDA Plants Database page for P. nigra.

USDA Zones: 5-8A [1]

Maximum age: May live up to or somewhat longer than 400 years [4].

Ecology: It is palatable compared to other ornamental species but is unlikely to be imporant forage for wildlife [3]. However, it may provide habitat for birds and small mammals [2,3].

Ethnobotany: It is used for construction and landscaping in both its native Europe and the United States, where it is also cultivated as a Christmas tree [2,3]. In Turkey, it is used to produce tar that is utilized as a remedy for skin ailments and as protection against endo- and ectoparasites [5].