Pinus sylvestris – Scots Pine

Pinus sylvestris, the native Scots pine, is a large evergreen specimen tree with blue-green paired needles, warm orange upper bark and a rugged, increasingly sculptural crown.

It is an excellent choice for large gardens, estates, parkland, woodland edges and exposed landscapes with full sun and freely draining soil.

Product highlights

• Native British evergreen conifer

• Blue-green foliage throughout the year

• Attractive orange and copper-coloured bark

• Sculptural irregular crown with age

• Fully hardy

• Excellent wind tolerance

• Suitable for poor sandy soil

• High wildlife value

• Moderate growth rate

• Very low routine pruning requirement

• Available in several specimen forms

Product information

Feature / Details
Botanical name: Pinus sylvestris
Common name: Scots pine
Plant type: Large evergreen conifer
Mature height: Approximately 15–25m
Mature spread: Approximately 6–10m
Growth rate: Moderate
Annual growth: Approximately 30–60cm
Position: Full sun
Soil: Sand, loam and other freely draining soils
Moisture: Dry to moderately moist
Hardiness: Fully hardy
UK native: Yes
Wildlife value: Exceptional
Maintenance: Very low

Suitable for

• Large gardens

• Estates and country properties

• Parkland

• Native woodland planting

• Wildlife landscapes

• Large lawns

• Exposed inland sites

• Sandy and freely draining soils

• Upland and rural landscapes

• Contemporary architectural planting

• Selected coastal sites

Not recommended for

• Small gardens

• Deep shade

• Permanently wet ground

• Compacted soil

• Poorly drained heavy clay

• Positions beneath overhead services

• Locations requiring a permanently dense formal screen

• Sites without adequate mature crown space

Choosing the right form

Feathered Scots pine

Retains lower branches and provides greater immediate evergreen volume.

Clear-stem Scots pine

Displays more of the decorative trunk and allows views or planting beneath the crown.

Multi-stem Scots pine

Creates a broader, more sculptural specimen with greater immediate bark and branch interest.

Read our guide to multi-stem versus standard trees.

Rootballed or container-grown

Large rootballed specimens are normally planted during the dormant season. Container-grown stock provides a wider planting window, subject to suitable weather and reliable irrigation.

Our rootball versus container-grown trees guide will help you select the appropriate option.

Planting requirements

Plant into freely draining soil at the original nursery depth. Do not plant into a deep sump within heavy clay, as this can collect water around the rootball.

Larger Scots pines require secure anchoring, suitable machinery access and consistent establishment irrigation.

Follow our tree planting and establishment guide.

Pruning and maintenance

Scots pine needs little routine pruning. Remove only damaged, crossing, unsafe or poorly positioned branches and preserve its natural form.

Do not cut established branches back into old leafless wood, as regrowth may be limited.

General formative guidance is available on our RHS Pruning Group 1 page.

Our recommendation

Pinus sylvestris is recommended for large, sunny and freely draining landscapes requiring a native evergreen tree with strong wildlife value and long-term architectural character.

It is especially effective on exposed, sandy, upland and rural sites across North West England.

We can install specimen trees at any of the in following postcodes;

BB, BL, CH1 - CH5, CW8, CW9, FY, L, LA1 - LA6, M, OL, PR, SK1 - SK12, WA, & WN.

Please do not purchase if you want the hedging installed outside this area. If you do live outside the area, then please give us a call on 01942 604976 and we can see if it’s possible to do this.

For more information on the tree see the tree specification below. For more information about delivery, access and planting, see the guide below or click here.