Conifer Trees Database

Description. Taiwan white pine is an evergreen, coniferous species of tree that grows to mature heights of 59 to 80 feet (15 - 25 m) with a trunk that is often crooked, measuring up to 48 inches (120 cm) in diameter, measured at breast height; and a conical crown.

• Bark on the trunk is grayish brown to blackish brown in color, irregularly shallowly fissured or shallowly cracked. It is scaly; scales develop in tiered layers (the bark of young stems is grayish brown and smooth). Outer bark is about 0.24 inch (6 mm) thick, hard and brittle, lignified and corky, with a tiered, red-brown cross section.
• Foliar buds are pale brown in color, ovoid shaped, and not resinous.
• Leaves (needles) are borne in bundles of 5 to a fascicle, measuring 3.2 inches (8 cm) long, triangular in cross section, with 2 resin ducts.
• Seed cones are borne in clusters of 3 or 4 at the base of branchlets, and are pedunculate (peduncle measures 0.2 to 0.4 inch / 0.5 - 1 cm), are ovoid to oblong-ovoid shaped, growing up to 4 inches (10 cm) long by 1.6 to 2 inches (4 - 5 cm) in diameter.
• Cone scales are oblong-ovoid, with a rounded apex.
• Seeds are winged, measuring about 0.8 inch (2 cm) long including the wing.

Distribution. This species is native to Taiwan, at altitudes of 1,000 to 7,500 feet (300 - 2,300 m) above sea level throughout the island, usually scattered and in association with broad-leaved trees, now scarce at lower elevations and mostly present at higher elevations and less accessible places.

Hardy to USDA Zone 8 - cold hardiness limit between 10° and 20°F (-12.1° and -6.7°C).