Pinus thunbergii
Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii) is a tree with a powerful presence. ‘Matsukaze’ is the Japanese word for the sound of wind in pine trees. And if you hear it passing through this rugged black pine, it is said you’ll be overcome with an exquisite solitude and melancholy. Wind or not, viewing Japanese black pine catches your breath.
Pinus thunbergii is native to Japan and South Korea. In Japan it is the dominant species from sea level up to 1,000 m/3,000 ft. A large tree with irregular branching, Japanese black pine can grow to 30 m/90 ft or more in the wild. Its densely crowded, dark-green needles are in pairs and spread outwards. They are stiff, sharply pointed, and often slightly twisted. You can see this pine planted everywhere in Japan - as a street tree, in temple gardens and as a boundary marker at Shinto shrines. Along the coast, it is used to stabilize shorelines and serve as a windbreak.
A tough tree too. Japanese black pine grows best in full sun and moist, rich soil. But it tolerates poor sandy soil, drought, summer heat, and cold, salty winds. Easy to grow and easy to care for and popular both as a bonsai plant and in Asian gardens. Despite a shorter lifespan in cultivation, Japanese black pine is worth growing. Our VanDusen tree was planted in 1973. I think the wind from Livingstone Lake might just be giving it some extra years.
Text and photos by Hughie Jones. The photos of Pinus thunbergii were taken in January 2024 (bed 35C) on a blue sky day and an all-grey day.