Pinus parviflora 'Glauca' is a relatively small, broadly upright tree form of Japanese white pine with silver-blue curved needles. In spring young seed cones often appear like tiny red flowers at the branch tips. After 10 years of growth, a mature specimen will measure 12 to 15 feet (4 - 5 m) tall and wide, annual growth rate of 12 to 18 inches (30 - 45 cm).
This cultivar originated long ago in Japan. The name was originally published in 1909 by Ludwig Beissner in Handbuch der Nadelhölzekunde. This conifer is very popular and widely planted in landscapes worldwide. Since Pinus parviflora often produces exceptionally blue seedlings, it is highly probable that more than one clone can be implicated as the source of various plants in the nursery trade. Because of this, it's probably inappropriate for 'Glauca' to continue in use as a proper cultivar name in this species. We should rather use, Pinus parviflora var. glauca to account for the various genetic ancestry of plants now in cultivation.
