Pinus heldreichii 'Irish Bell' / Irish Bell Bosnian pine

Pinus heldreichii 'Irish Bell' is an upright dwarf selection of Bosnian pine, with dense symmetrical branching and shorter-than-typical bright green needles that reveal bright-white fascicles from within. After 10 years of growth, a mature specimen will measure 4 feet (1.3 m) tall and 36 inches (90 cm) wide, an annual growth rate of 4 to 5 inches (10 - 12.5 cm).

According to the Iseli Nursery online catalog, ‘Irish Bell’ presents a handsome, broadly pyramidal form that stays compact, neat and well-mannered. Trees gradually widen into a classic bell shape, narrow at the top, broader near the ground and about as wide as tall. A mature ‘Irish Bell’ displays a colony of upright branches, each one decorated with tufts of straight green needles and glistening white fascicles. The bright white accent gives the impression that light dances among the needles, a feature that accentuates the beauty of this useful ornamental pine and adds to its value as a striking garden specimen. Well-regarded in the trade, this selection is a good choice for urban and suburban gardens for year-round impact.

This cultivar originated as seedling selected in the late 1990s by Iseli Nursery, Boring, Oregon, USA.

Pinus heldreichii 'Irish Bell' — a young specimen lighting up the corner of a private garden in mid spring.
Photo by Alan Twohig
Pinus heldreichii 'Irish Bell' — a young specimen in a private garden in Illinois, September 2006.
Photo by Daniel Wols
Pinus heldreichii 'Irish Bell' — a mature specimen at the ACS Reference Garden at Oregon Garden, Silverton. OR.
Photo by Kigi Nursery, Inc.

Comments

Denise Vouri

I inherited this dwarf Irish bell that looks almost dead due to no sun and perhaps it’s root bound. I have placed it in a sunny place and water it every couple of days. I’m in Northern California. Any ideas on how to resurrect it or is it too late. It’s brown and the needles fall off easily. Thanks

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[Deleted User]

Hi Denise ... you took a massive risk, planting it in mid-summer. What you describe doesn't sound good. A picture would be very helpful. It may already be long done. If it's exfoliated, scratch under the bark. If there's no green cambium, it's dead, if there's some green there is still a chance.

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