Pinus parviflora 'Nasu' is an irregular upright selection of Japanese white pine with layered, horizontal, somewhat contorted branching, and silver-green needles that grow with a slight twist when young. After 10 years or growth, a mature specimen will measure 10 feet (3 m) tall and 6 feet (2 m) wide, an annual growth rate of 12 inches (30 cm) or more. Common practice is to use candeling and aesthetic pruning techniques that will keep plants smaller and "in bounds" over time.
This cultivar originated as a seedling selected long ago by Bonsai artists in Japan. It was apparently named for a district in Japan's Tochigi Prefecture in the 1970s. It is often seen listed with the superfluous tag "goyo," i.e. 'Nasu goyo'.
