Bosnian Pine Data Sheet

• Common name: Bosnian pine

• Latin name: Pinus heldreichii

• Genus: Pinus

• Height: 35 m (115 ft)

• Type: Evergreen

• Hardiness: Zone 4–8

• Conservation status: Least concern

Pinus Heldreichii, commonly known as the Bosnian Pine, is a conifer native to southern Italy and the Balkans. Its range extends across Bosnia, Serbia, Bulgaris, Albania and northern parts of Italy.

This tree is generally found at medium to high altitudes, mostly from 1,500 m (4,900 ft) to 2,500 m (8,200 ft).

The Bosnian Pine is a medium sized evergreen tree which can grow up to 35 m (115 ft) tall. The needles are 10 cm long and grow in pairs along the branch and have a rich deep green colour. The bark is a deep shade of grey with a nice looking scale pattern. The bark scaling resembles shattered safety glass. The cones start life with a purple colour which turns brown at maturity. The cones are 9 cm long and scaled. there is a winged seed behind each scale. Cones take 18 months to mature from pollination.

It can live up to 1,000 years. A tree was recently dated at 1,070 years in Italy.

The Bosnian pie has no known close relatives.

This is a fairly large tree used in parks and ornamental gardens. It is gaining popularity with bonsai growers in recent years.

Pre Germination

These seeds need no pretreatment or stratification before sowing. Fill trays or pots with quality compost and firm down gently. Spread seeds across the surface; around 15 in a 10 cm pot is ideal. Cover with 3 mm of compost and gently firm down.

Compost should always be damp, not soaking wet. Never allow it to dry out. Place pots or trays on a warm windowsill or in a warm consevatory. Germination should occur at 1–3 weeks.

Post Germination

Once seedlings appear, keep them in a well-ventilated area to reduce the risk of damping off disease. Place in bright conditions, a windowsill is ideal. Ensure they don't dry out. Water logging should also be avoided; young trees hate wet feet. These seedlings are large and sturdy and will give you little hassle. They can be separated into their own 4" pots after 15–20 weeks; at this stage they are frost hardy and can stay outside all year. Fertilization is not required up to this point. During spring and summer we advise using an NPK 10-10-10 fertilizer every 4 weeks.

CAUTION: Slugs and snails love juicy young pines and spruces. Thieving mice are a problem too.

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