How far apart should I plant Japanese black pine?

About 6 m (20 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 5–10 m (16–33 ft).

Does Japanese black pine need full sun?

Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.

How much water does Japanese black pine need?

Low water. Drought tolerance is moderate and waterlogging tolerance low.

How cold-hardy is Japanese black pine?

It tolerates about -23 °C (-9 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 6.

When does Japanese black pine flower?

From about May for 1–3 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).

Is Japanese black pine poisonous to cats and dogs?

For cats it is mildly toxic; for dogs mildly toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Pine needles and resin can cause mild stomach upset in pets; not considered poisonous to people.

What grows well with Japanese black pine?

There is no well-documented companion pairing for Japanese black pine. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (low).

Japanese black pine Pinus thunbergii

Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii) is an evergreen perennial tree in the Pinaceae family, native to Coastal Japan and Korea. It grows 8–20 m (26–66 ft) tall and 5–10 m (16–33 ft) wide, wants full sun and low water, and is hardy to about -23 °C (-9 °F). Space plants about 6 m (20 ft) apart.

Plan Japanese black pine in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.

Japanese black pine at a glance

Type	Perennial tree, evergreen
Family	Pinaceae
Mature height	8–20 m (26–66 ft)
Mature spread	5–10 m (16–33 ft)
Spacing	6 m (20 ft) centre to centre
Sun	Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day
Water	Low; drought tolerance moderate, waterlogging tolerance low
Soil pH	5–7.5
Cold hardiness	About -23 °C (-9 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 6)
Heat stress	Likely above about 36 °C (97 °F)
Flowering	from about May for 1–3 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones)
Wind tolerance	High
Pollinator value	None
Edible	Not grown as food
Native to	Coastal Japan and Korea
Common in gardens of	🇯🇵 Japan, 🇨🇳 China

Is Japanese black pine toxic?

People: not known to be toxic
Cats: mildly toxic
Dogs: mildly toxic
Parts: needles, resin

Pine needles and resin can cause mild stomach upset in pets; not considered poisonous to people.

If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.

Companion planting: what to grow with Japanese black pine

No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and low water.

Keep apart or take care

caution With Scots pine: Both pines are susceptible to pine wilt disease, carried by the pinewood nematode and spread by Monochamus longhorn beetles in warm-summer areas. Evidence B

See Japanese black pine in a botanical garden

It grows in these sample gardens, which you can walk through in 3D:

Questions about Japanese black pine

How far apart should I plant Japanese black pine?: About 6 m (20 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 5–10 m (16–33 ft).
Does Japanese black pine need full sun?: Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
How much water does Japanese black pine need?: Low water. Drought tolerance is moderate and waterlogging tolerance low.
How cold-hardy is Japanese black pine?: It tolerates about -23 °C (-9 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 6.
When does Japanese black pine flower?: From about May for 1–3 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
Is Japanese black pine poisonous to cats and dogs?: For cats it is mildly toxic; for dogs mildly toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Pine needles and resin can cause mild stomach upset in pets; not considered poisonous to people.
What grows well with Japanese black pine?: There is no well-documented companion pairing for Japanese black pine. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (low).

Sources and evidence

Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).

RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, Missouri Botanical Garden
USDA PLANTS Database, USDA NRCS

Notes and assumptions

Very tolerant of salt spray and sandy soil; widely pruned as niwaki.
Susceptible to pine wilt disease (pinewood nematode) in warm summers.

Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.

Related plants

Dwarf mountain pine Pinus mugo
Colorado blue spruce Picea pungens
Eastern white pine Pinus strobus
Scots pine Pinus sylvestris
Norway spruce Picea abies
Siberian larch Larix sibirica
Two-needle piñon Pinus edulis
Lacebark pine Pinus bungeana