Pine Swiss Stone
Product Code: pscom
Pinus cembra 'Compacta Glauca'
Details
Pinus cembra, commonly called Pine Swiss Stone, is a native evergreen tree to mountain areas in central Europe from the Alps to the Carpathians. It has more of a slow-growing nature and overall is more of a medium-sized pine. It has a narrow pyramidal shape in its youth, and then gradually becomes more round and open as it matures. This evergreen typically grows around 12-20' tall x 10-15' wide. Soft, dark green to blue green needles (2-5” long). Short-stalked, oblong cones (to 2.5” long) are greenish purple when young, and then mature to a purplish-brown color.
Planting & Care for Pine Swiss Trees
Preparation
- Pine Swiss is an open and pyramidal evergreen tree while young, but turns to a round-topped and irregular tree when old.
- Grows to be around 12-20' tall x 10-15' wide
- Full sun is the ideal condition for this tree (6-8 hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun.
- Tolerates a wide range of soils, but prefers sandy loams.
- Appreciates sites with good air circulation.
- This pine prefers cool summer climates and is not recommended for planting south of USDA Zone 7.
Opening Plant Material
- Containers - Completely saturate all container plants by putting in a larger container of water until stops bubbling, remove. Now ready to plant. Dig a hole no deeper than the depth of the container and 6" or more, making sure it’s wider on the sides.
Planting containers
- Slide plant from pot by tapping on the bottom of the pot.
- With shovel or knife trim bottom 2" off of the root ball for plants in plastic containers.
- Rotate the plant to the proper position. Never lift or move plants by the tops.
- Place the root ball in the hole.
- Notice where the base of the trunk flairs out from the tree. This is called the root flair. This root flair should show when the tree is planted. If necessary, add soil under the ball so the root flair is exposed.
- Place fertilizer packets into the bottom of the hole (if purchased). *Use Our Recommended Fertilizer.
- Backfill the hole with soil, making sure the top of the root ball is visible and slightly higher than the soil around it.
- Firm the soil around the plant. Water well to settle soil around the root ball.
Pruning - After Planting
- Containers - Although it is not essential for B&B or containers to be pruned after planting, a light pruning for shape, to remove any broken branches from shipping, or to thin out a heavily branched plant will help in the transplanting process and in the appearance of your new planting.
Pruning - Through-out the Season
- Prune by "candle pruning" each May. The current year’s new shoots, or "candles," can be cut with hand pruners or pinched off to the desired length.
Watering - After Planting
- Plants typically take approximately 6 weeks to establish new roots in your soil. During this period, water plants as often as every 2-4 days at the start and at least a minimum of once per week.
- Beyond the 6 week establishment period, water once per week, unless rains occur.
- Stick your finger into the soil around 3” to check soil moisture.
Watering - Through-out the Season
- After the first season, plants should only be watered during extended periods without rain.
- How do you know if your plants need water? The easiest way to tell is to touch the soil around the roots. If it is moist, there is no need to water. If it is dry, give it a good soaking with the hose end (no nozzle) watering the soil only, not the leaves.
- Stick your finger into the soil around 3” to check soil moisture.
Go to our "Plant Features & Video Tab" for more information & tips on caring and maintaining this plant.
Special Features & Videos for Pine Swiss Trees
Special Plant Features & Tips
- Pine Swiss is an open and pyramidal evergreen tree while young, but turns to a round-topped and irregular tree when old.
- Prune by "candle pruning" each May. The current year’s new shoots, or "candles," can be cut with hand pruners or pinched off to the desired length.
- Cones never open.
- This tree is typically favored for its beautiful foliage that has more of a smooth texture to it.
- Be sure to space 6-8' apart when planting.
- This pine tree is tolerant to deer.
- Swiss stone pine has good resistant to blister rust.
- This is more of a narrow compact pine for smaller landscapes. Plant as an accent or in small groups. Columnar form is good for small spaces, foundations and near entrances or doors.
- Scotch Pine is an open and pyramidal evergreen tree while young, but turns to a round-topped and irregular tree when old.
- Grows to be around 12-20' tall x 10-15' wide
- Full sun is the ideal condition for this tree (6-8 hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun.
- Tolerates a wide range of soils, but prefers sandy loams.
- Appreciates sites with good air circulation.
- This pine prefers cool summer climates and is not recommended for planting south of USDA Zone 7.
Pruning Winter Burn on Evergreens
How & When to Prune Evergreens Plants
| Item | Approx Weight (lbs.) | Approx Base Dimensions (diameter) | Approx Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| #7 Grow Bag** | 35-50 | 14-16" | 5-8' |
| #10 Grow Bag** | 55-70 | 18" | 6-8' |
| #15 Grow Bag** | 65-80 | 22" | 6-10' |
| #20 Grow Bag** | 75-100 | 24" | 8-12' |
| 1 1/4" B&B** | 250-500 | 22" for single stems, 28" for multiple stems | 8-11' |
| 1 1/2" B&B** | 325-600 | 24" for single stems, 30" for multiple stems | 10-12' |
| 2" B&B** | 500-700 | 28" for single stems, 32" for multiple stems | 10-14' |
| 2 1/2" B&B** | 600-1000 | 30" for single stems, 36" for multiple stems | 10-15' |
| 3" B&B** | 850-1000 | 34"-36" | 12-16' |
| 3 1/2" B&B** | 1000 | 36" | 12-18' |
| 10' B&B** | 250 | 22" | 10' |
| 12' B&B** | 325 | 24" | 12' |
| 14' B&B** | 500 | 28" | 14' |
| 16' B&B** | 600 | 30" | 16' |
| 2' B&B** | 50 | 12-16" | 2' |
| 3' B&B** | 60-250 | 16-22" | 3' |
| 4' B&B** | 250 | 22-24" | 4' |
| 5' B&B** | 325 | 22-24" | 5' |
| 6' B&B** | 150-325 | 16-24" | 6' |
| 7' B&B** | 500-700 | 28-32" | 7' |
| 8' B&B** | 600-700 | 14-30" | 8' |
| 9' B&B** | 700 | 32" | 9' |
| #3 container* | Less than 35 | 10" | 10" |
| #5 container** | 40 | 11" | 10.5" |
| #7 container** | 60 | 14" | 12" |
| #10 container** | 80 | 14" | 14 |
| #20 container** | 160 | 19.5" | 17" |
| Bare Root* | varies, but always lighter | no soil on roots | varies depending on item |
*#1 - #3 containers and bare root are the only items that can be shipped FedEx and/or by our delivery trucks (see below for more information regarding pick-up and local delivery.
**Any items over 100 Ibs., #5 - #20 containers or B&B can only be delivered by our trucks due to FedEx shipping weight and size restrictions. Our trusted trucks only deliver around a 100 miles radius from our corporate office in Waterloo, Wisconsin. Any item you order can be picked-up at our corporate office in Waterloo, Wisconsin or our new retail garden center Winterland Nursery for free (bare root orders cannot be picked up at Winterland due to lack of bare root coolers). See our estimated delivery schedule here.
Growing Zones: 4-7
| Color: | Blue, Green, Purple |
| Plant Size: | 12-20' tall x 10-15' wide |
| Sunlight: | Full Sun |
| Soil Conditions: | Normal, Sandy, Clay, Acidic, Dry |
| Low Maintenance: | No |
| Deer Resistant: | Yes |
| Attracts Butterflies: | No |
| Attracts Bees: | No |
| Attracts Birds: | No |
| Edible: | No |
| Native: | No |