Any arborists or landscapers out there?

Matteo Escobar

Matteo Escobar

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Feb 26, 2002
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I have a very unusual pine tree in my back yard.

I live in Rhode Island.

I just bought a new house, and the landscaper is going nuts over this tree. He just came by again this afternoon to take pics of it to show to his colleagues. Apparently last night he spent several hours scouring the Internet as well as his reference books trying to identify it, to no avail.

It's about 30 feet tall, crooked like the ones found in California on the coast, it has three needles per "leaf", and cones a little bigger than eggs.

The most unusual feature is that the needles grow out of the trunk as well, all over it.

It's a healthy tree that shows no sign of disease.

Any idea of the genus?
 
I have no idea.

But could you take a picture of it and post it? It sounds interesting and I would like to see it. :)

Thanks!

Ryan
 
Having needles growing out of the trunk is unusual, but not unheard of. In my admittedly limited experience that is usually a result of environmental factors.

I don't have any references to check myself, but it sounds like a Japanese Black pine from your description.
 
Oh -- and don't forget to post one more time! To tell us what the tree really is!!

(Anticipation)
 
Given the description you gave (pictures would've helped), my wife (Advanced Master Gardener) suggest it's perhaps a Pitch Pine (Pinus rigida Mill.) Under stress or when aggressively pruned, they grow needles on old wood (i.e.: the trunk, etc.). In poor soil, they will grow stunted and twisty.
 
EDCeeker said:
Given the description you gave (pictures would've helped), my wife (Advanced Master Gardener) suggest it's perhaps a Pitch Pine (Pinus rigida Mill.) Under stress or when aggressively pruned, they grow needles on old wood (i.e.: the trunk, etc.). In poor soil, they will grow stunted and twisty.
Click to expand...

I think you may be right. All the pictures on that link look pretty close. And your description is pretty close to the conditions.

As I'm in transition moving from one house to another, I don't have a computer with my camera software installed. As soon as I do I will post a pic.

Thanks for all the input!!
 
EDCeeker,

I just talked to my landscaper, and it is indeed a Pitch Pine. Your wife is a bright lady, knowledgeable in her field.

Before I told him what your wife thought it might be, he said "I think it's a Pitch Pine." The difference is that he spent a few hours researching it!

Thank you!
 
Matteo Escobar said:
EDCeeker,

I just talked to my landscaper, and it is indeed a Pitch Pine. Your wife is a bright lady, knowledgeable in her field.
Click to expand...
That she is :).

Matteo Escobar said:
Before I told him what your wife thought it might be, he said "I think it's a Pitch Pine." The difference is that he spent a few hours researching it!
Click to expand...
Well, my wife's spent a lot of hours studying and in classes/seminars/etc.

Matteo Escobar said:
Thank you!
Click to expand...
You're quite welcome :)
 
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