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Japanese Black Pine (Pinus thunbergii)
$50-200avg. price
Tree Deer ResistantDrought Tolerant

Japanese Black Pine

Pinus thunbergii

Japanese Black Pine is the bonsai master's tree, scaled up for the landscape — irregularly shaped, wind-sculpted character with thick, dark needles and beautiful fissured bark. Highly salt-tolerant, it's the go-to pine for coastal properties. Trained specimens can be living sculptures. It has more personality than any other pine.

Hardiness Zones
5-8
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water Needs
Low
Maintenance
Moderate
Mature Size
20-40 ft H × 15-25 ft W
Growth Rate
Moderate
Bloom Season
Non-flowering (evergreen)
Bloom Color
Dark green needles, striking bark

Care Guide

Plant in full sun with well-drained soil. Excellent salt and wind tolerance — perfect for coastal planting. Can be 'candle-pruned' for artistic shaping (cut new growth in spring). Watch for pine wilt nematode in some areas. Space for eventual size — don't crowd against structures.

Landscape Uses

Specimen treeJapanese gardensCoastal plantingTrained/sculpted treesBonsai

Best Growing Regions

northeastsoutheastwest

Great Companion Plants

Japanese Maple
Japanese MapleAcer palmatum
Japanese Garden Juniper
Japanese Garden JuniperJuniperus procumbens 'Nana'
Mondo Grass
Mondo GrassOphiopogon japonicus
Black Mondo Grass
Black Mondo GrassOphiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens'
Boxwood
BoxwoodBuxus sempervirens

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