This small to medium sized coniferous tree has reddish-brown deeply fissured trunk with the light grey horizontal upturned branches that form a rounded crown. It produces shiny yellow or red-brown female cones singularly or in a cluster during spring.

Hardiness zones 8 to 10

Pinus halepensisis naturally found in the Mediterranean region from western Asia to Morocco, Croatia, Italy, France and Spain. It has also naturalised in the Eastern and Western Cape of South Africa, California in the USA, South Australia and is regarded as an invasive species. It is commonly found from sea level to an altitude of 1,600 m (5,249 ft) growing on a dry soils and is commonly wind pruned.

It prefers an open sunny position and grows in well drained moderately fertile sandy-stony to clay soils with a pH range of 6.1-7.8 and is drought and frost resistant.

Aleppo Pine is grown for its habit, wood and resin. It is planted in parks and gardens as a specimen for shade all used along the borders for screening and as a windbreak. It is also planted in semi arid gardens tolerating hot dry conditions and is suitable for coastal and low-mountain regions. It establishes in 3-5 years and is long-lived but may self sow under ideal conditions and has become weed in several countries.

This tree is widely planted in forest for its timber that is use the fuel wood and construction and for honey production. The resin is collected by local communities and is used in flavouring retsina (Greek wine) or for the production of turpentine and the tree is commonly used as a bonsai subject. Once established it has a low water requirement (Scale: 1-drop from 3), responding to an occasional deep watering during dry periods, particularly for young plants. ID 3829

Pinus (PY-nus) halepensis(ha-le-PEN-sis)

Pinaceae(py-NAY-see-ee)
Larches, spruces, pines, firs, hemlocks and cedars