Pinus halepensis

Its fine, flexible needles are grouped in small light-green bundle that grow from buds that contain no resin.

These needles are distinctive as they release a wonderful balsamic scent when crushed. It smells like summer and calm.

The mature tree can reach up to 15 meters in height/6 meters in width with a rectangular shaped crown that is specific to this species.

The reason for the shape is that Pinus halepensis sheds its lower branches only late in life, contrary to many other pines, giving its crown a more or less rectangular shape, .

Its open foliage reduces wind resistance and minimizes storm damage, while its tolerance to salt spray allows it to flourish even on coastal cliffs.

Sold in 1L pots at 20cm height

👩‍🌾GARDENING TIPS👩‍🌾: Pinus halepensis

• • The main requirement : Sun and lots lots lots of it > Sun exposure allows for the wood to harden, improving the pine’s resistance to frosts over time.
  • Pinus halepensis tolerates nearly any type of soil—even rocky environments where real soil is scarce.
  • While the young trees are sensitive to frost, the more mature adults can easily withstand  temperatures as low as -15°C
  • Looks amazing with Stipa tenuifolia, Festuca glauca, Thymus longicaulis ‘Odoratus’

Learn more about gardening with Pinus halepensis:

• • ENG: Gardening with the Aleppo Pine
  • FR: Histoire du Pin d’Alep
  • FR: Que faire avec du pin d’Alep?

The Tale & The Botany: Pinus halepensis

Pinus halepensis is an evergreen conifer that usually reaches between ten and twenty meters in height, though some specimens in their natural habitat have been seen to reach twenty-five.

Its crown has an irregular, open, and often rectangular shape, a result of its tendency to retain its lower branches for a long time – unusual for a pine.

The trunk is typically light gray, sometimes twisted, and becomes darker and fissured as the tree ages.

The needles of the Aleppo pine are fine and flexible, grouped in pairs, and measure around six to twelve centimeters in length.

Their color is a soft, light green, and when crushed they release a distinct balsamic scent.

The cones are ovoid and medium-sized, generally six to twelve centimeters long, and often appear in clusters of two or three.

They mature over two to three years, turning from green to pale brown, and may remain attached to the branches long after releasing their seeds.

The seeds themselves are small and winged, easily carried away by the wind.

Myths and Legends

One of the most famous myths linked to the pine concerns Pitys, a nymph who was loved by Pan but pursued by the North Wind, Boreas.

To escape Boreas’s violence, she was transformed into a pine tree by the gods. The sighing of the wind through pine needles was said to be her eternal lament.

In early Christian tradition, the pine’s evergreen needles were reinterpreted as a sign of eternal life and resurrection.

It is seen across the Mediterranean cultures as a symbol of tenacity, resilience and grace in the face of adversity.

Practically, it is widely used today for reforestation, especially in eroded or arid areas, and is appreciated in landscaping for its graceful form and silvery-green foliage.

Its wood is light and soft—more suitable for fuel or small carpentry than for construction.

Ecology

Ecologically, Pinus halepensis is a true pioneer species.

It is one of the first trees to recolonize degraded or burned areas, playing a vital role in stabilizing soils and restoring vegetation cover.

The species has evolved a strong relationship with fire: its cones are often serotinous, meaning they open in response to heat, allowing the seeds to germinate in the nutrient-rich ash that follows a blaze.

This adaptation ensures rapid regeneration in fire-prone Mediterranean environments.

The Aleppo pine’s resilience to drought, heat, and wind is exceptional.

Its roots can penetrate deeply in search of water but also spread widely to exploit shallow soils, enabling it to thrive on dry, rocky, and nutrient-poor sites.

It supports a variety of different life forms – crossbills and finches feed on its seeds, while its canopy shelters insects and small mammals.

The tree also forms symbiotic relationships with mycorrhizal fungi, which enhance its nutrient uptake in poor soils.

Other names

Aleppo Pine

Origin

Mediterranean