Variation
var. horizontalis
This coniferous tree is upright with horizontal branching forming a dense crown with a twisted trunk. It is grown as a specimen in large gardens.

Cultivars
'Glauca'   Pencil Pine
This glaucous pencil pine grows to 4 m (12 ft) tall by 800 mm (44 in) wide forming a compact narrow conical habit with slender needle like blue green foliage that is aromatic when crushed. 

It grows in an open sunny position on well drained, fertile moist soils and tolerates frost and a short period of drought once established. This narrow tree is grown as a single specimen or in group plantings along avenues. It is also suitable for containers and used in courtyards as a focal point. Ther plant benefits from mulch and an application of complete fertiliser during spring.

'Gracilis'
This New Zealand, conifer forms a columnar habit with bright green foliage.

'Stricta'   Pencil Pine
This coniferous tree forms a fastigiate habit with closely ascending branches and grows to 18 m (55 ft) tall by 1 m (3 ft) wide and has dark green foliage. A wider form is known as horizontalis. It is planted along driveways or used in formal gardens as a specimen.

'Swanes Golden Pine'
This coniferous tree and grows to 3 m (10ft) tall, by 1 m (3 ft) wide in 10 years and may attain a height of 8 m (25 ft).  It produces a golden yellow foliage when grown in full sun and may revert to green in shaded positions. It is frost sensitive but tolerates cold climates.