Italian stone pine Pinus pinea
Italian stone pine (Pinus pinea) is an evergreen perennial tree in the Pinaceae family, native to Mediterranean coasts. It grows 12–25 m (39–82 ft) tall and 10–18 m (33–59 ft) wide, wants full sun and low water, and is hardy to about -12 °C (10 °F). Space plants about 12 m (39 ft) apart.
Plan Italian stone pine in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Italian stone pine at a glance
| Type | Perennial tree, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Pinaceae |
| Mature height | 12–25 m (39–82 ft) |
| Mature spread | 10–18 m (33–59 ft) |
| Spacing | 12 m (39 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Low; drought tolerance high, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Soil pH | 5.5–8 |
| Cold hardiness | About -12 °C (10 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 8) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 42 °C (108 °F) |
| Wind tolerance | High |
| Pollinator value | None |
| Edible | Yes: seeds (pine nuts) |
| Native to | Mediterranean coasts |
| Common in gardens of | 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇵🇹 Portugal, 🇬🇷 Greece, 🇹🇷 Turkey |
Is Italian stone pine toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
No toxicity reported in ASPCA or standard poison references.
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 Italian stone pine
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and low water.
Questions about Italian stone pine
- How far apart should I plant Italian stone pine?
- About 12 m (39 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 10–18 m (33–59 ft).
- Does Italian stone pine need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Italian stone pine need?
- Low water. Drought tolerance is high and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Italian stone pine?
- It tolerates about -12 °C (10 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 8.
- Is Italian stone pine poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. No toxicity reported in ASPCA or standard poison references.
- What grows well with Italian stone pine?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Italian stone 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).
- Euro+Med PlantBase, Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Notes and assumptions
- Umbrella-shaped crown on a bare trunk; the pine nuts of pesto. Cones take three years to ripen.
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
- Japanese black pine Pinus thunbergii
- Eastern white pine Pinus strobus
- Scots pine Pinus sylvestris
- Norway spruce Picea abies
- Siberian larch Larix sibirica
- Two-needle piñon Pinus edulis