Frank’s Columnar Austrian Black Pine

Pinus nigra ‘Frank’

Other Names: European Black Pine, Austrian Pine, Black Pine, Calabrian Pine, Larch Pine

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 4a-7b (East); 4a-8b (West) Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Coniferous Evergreen Tree

Height at Maturity: 10-12′; 6 to 8′ at 10 years of age, Can be kept smaller with annual pruning

Width at Maturity: 3-4′; 2-3′ at 10 years of age.

Spacing: Best as a specimen or small grouping, or use two to frame an entryway

Growth Habit / Form: Upright Narrow Cone

Growth Rate: Moderate: 8″ per year

Flower Color: Creamy White candles in spring

Flower Size: NA

Flowering Period: NA

Flower Type: NA

Fragrant Flowers: No

Foliage Color: Dark Green, Creamy White candles in spring

Fragrant Foliage: Yes

Berries: No

Berry Color: NA

Sun Needs: Full Sun or Mostly Sun

Water Needs: Low when established

Soil Type: Clay (Amend heavy clay to ensure good drainage), Loam, Sandy, Silty

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Moist But Well-Drained to Dry when established

Soil pH: 5.0 – 7.0 (Acid to Neutral)

Maintenance / Care: Very Low

Attracts: Visual Attention

Resistances: Cold Temperatures (-30F), Deer, Drought (when established), Dry Soil, Salt Soil (good)

Description

A wonderful tight and narrow form of Austrian Black Bine, ‘Frank’s’ is sure to put an exclamation point on your landscape. It features very dark, rich green needles on a narrow cone form to maybe 12 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide when all grown up. In spring, creamy white, vertical “candles” appear at the tips of every stem. These candles can be trimmed to half their height if you would like to create an even more dense plant. An excellent specimen, grouping, or framing plant for an entryway in small garden spaces, home foundation plantings and conifer and rock gardens.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing 10 to 12 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide at maturity, Frank’s Columnar Austrian Black Pine is ideal for use as a solitary vertical accent or in spaced groupings in sunny landscape borders, home foundation plantings, and rock gardens. Two can be used to frame an entryway. Its small size makes it a good candidate for growing in containers. A fine addition to rock gardens and conifer gardens.

Suggested Spacing: 5 feet apart for space between plants

Growing Preferences

Frank’s Columnar Austrian Black Pine is easy to grown in most any moist but well drained soil of average to low fertility and full to mostly sun, preferably 7 hours or more direct sunlight per day. Young trees will require some moisture to develop a good root system, however established trees are highly drought tolerant. Does not like a constantly soggy or wet soil which can kill the plant. Does not require pruning however responds well to it for size control and a more dense form. How To Prune A Pine Tree or Shrub Pine

Helpful Articles

Click on the link below to find helpful planting and care advice from our experts.

How To Prune A Pine Tree or Shrub Pine

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