Pinus strobus 'Green Twist' is a dwarf, globose selection of eastern white pine with tight branching and fluffy, twisted needles. After 10 years of growth, a mature specimen will measure 20 inches (50 cm) tall and wide, an annual growth rate of around 2 inches (5 cm).
This cultivar originated as a witch's broom found in 1997 on a specimen of Pinus strobus 'Contorta' in Bickelhaupt Arboretum, Clinton Iowa. Bickelhaupt Arboretum Horticulturist, Dave Horst is credited with the find. Of all of the dwarf 'Torulosa' - type pines, 'Green Twist' is one of the smallest, readily available selections.
Pinus strobus 'Green Twist' — a healthy mature specimen in the Flora Wonder Arboretum at Buchholz Nursery, Gaston, Oregon.
Photo by David Olszyk
Pinus strobus 'Green Twist' — a closeup of foliage detail.
Photo by David Olszyk
Pinus strobus 'Green Twist' in the Heartland Collection of Garden Conifers at Bickelhaupt Arboretum, Clinton, Iowa, late October, 2005.
Photo by Dax Herbst
Comments
Denise Batcher
Is the Pinus strobus 'Green Twist' deer resistant?
David Olszyk
Hi Denise ... 'Green Twist' is no more or less deer resistant than any other white pine. It all depends on your individual situation. Deer facing starvation are known to eat nearly everything.
Darlene
The twist part has turned brown. The pictures I have seen are green- Is my green twist white pine dying-
David Olszyk
the newest needles are always green. In mid- to late-summer every year, a portion (sometimes up to 30%) of the older needles will turn brown and fall. If this year's needles are brown, your plant has died.
Margaret Huls
My new 5 gal pinus twist was planted on the south west corner of my border bed and haz turned 80 percent brown. I have a drip irrigation to it every morning at 5am. Is it dying? Is it getting to much sun here in Mississippi. Do i need to move it to get just morning sun? Pleasee help before I lose it. I planted it in April land looked good til mid July
David Olszyk
unfortunately if it's 80% brown, it's probably already dead. Spring is the 2nd worst time to plant a tree (only summer is worse). A 5-gallon plant is going to be a little tougher to get established.
It's possible that you overwatered it. Did you check to see if the soil was dry 2 inches below the surface before turning on the drip system.
This plant does best in full sun, but thrives in the Northern U.S. and Canada where summer days are a bit cooler.
Ronald Schlak
When I have a new plant , I water by hand so I'm sure it gets watered thoroughly .
But just as important is to allow it to dry out between waterings
So about 2 gal. , once a week
your plant is either too wet , or too dry
Misson Jean-Pierre
Hello,
Is there a morphological difference between Pinus strobus 'Green Twist' and Pinus strobus
'Green Curls'
Thank you
David Olszyk
Hello Mission ... 'Green Twist' is a witch's broom on 'Contorta' found on a tree in Bickelhaupt Arboretum in Iowa, exactly the same is said of 'Green Curls'. You will notice that 'Green Curls' is missing from this database. My guess is that somebody mixed up the names at some point in the past.
Hemauer Joseph
Where does Pinus strobus 'Tiny Kurls' fit in. Are Green Twist, Tiny Kurls, and Mini twist all the same plant?
David Olszyk
They are definitely all different selections that just happen to all look the same. If you were to read the descriptions for each of them you will know the origins.
"Green Twist" ... witch's broom found by Dave Horst in Iowa in 1997
"Tiny Kurls" ... seedling selection by Greg Williams in 2005 (medium growth rate)
"Mini Twists" ... seedling selection by Greg Williams (slower growth rate than "Tiny Kurls")
"Vercurve" ... the third seedling selection by Greg Williams (fastest of his three seedlings).
Lori Austin
HI all, do wonder if my 'MIni Twists' eastern white pine has died. I planted last fall and was growing beautifully until three weeks ago. All the new growth turned brown. Well, I figured I had nothing to lose so last night I trimmed all the dead off. Not sure if I made a big mistake but having the dead off may help ... or hurt? Is it a lost cause. Its green beneath the the dead new growth. Such a bummer. This thing cost me a ton of money. Thanks for the feedback, please.
David Olszyk
Hi Lori ... dead brown new growth is dead forever. You probably did no harm in removing it unless you cut into some live material and took some dormant buds with the dead stuff. If older growth is still green, there's still a chance that it'll re-sprout next spring, but it's going to be weak for a long time.
You didn't say where you're trying to grow your plant, but this species has evolved to thrive in a humid continental, cold-winter climate. If you're one of the unfortunate many who are living under a heat dome this summer, it may be soon time to explore the Mediterranean species out there.
Comments
Is the Pinus strobus 'Green Twist' deer resistant?
Hi Denise ... 'Green Twist' is no more or less deer resistant than any other white pine. It all depends on your individual situation. Deer facing starvation are known to eat nearly everything.
The twist part has turned brown. The pictures I have seen are green- Is my green twist white pine dying-
the newest needles are always green. In mid- to late-summer every year, a portion (sometimes up to 30%) of the older needles will turn brown and fall. If this year's needles are brown, your plant has died.
My new 5 gal pinus twist was planted on the south west corner of my border bed and haz turned 80 percent brown. I have a drip irrigation to it every morning at 5am. Is it dying? Is it getting to much sun here in Mississippi. Do i need to move it to get just morning sun? Pleasee help before I lose it. I planted it in April land looked good til mid July
unfortunately if it's 80% brown, it's probably already dead. Spring is the 2nd worst time to plant a tree (only summer is worse). A 5-gallon plant is going to be a little tougher to get established.
It's possible that you overwatered it. Did you check to see if the soil was dry 2 inches below the surface before turning on the drip system.
This plant does best in full sun, but thrives in the Northern U.S. and Canada where summer days are a bit cooler.
When I have a new plant , I water by hand so I'm sure it gets watered thoroughly .
But just as important is to allow it to dry out between waterings
So about 2 gal. , once a week
your plant is either too wet , or too dry
Hello,
Is there a morphological difference between Pinus strobus 'Green Twist' and Pinus strobus
'Green Curls'
Thank you
Hello Mission ... 'Green Twist' is a witch's broom on 'Contorta' found on a tree in Bickelhaupt Arboretum in Iowa, exactly the same is said of 'Green Curls'. You will notice that 'Green Curls' is missing from this database. My guess is that somebody mixed up the names at some point in the past.
Where does Pinus strobus 'Tiny Kurls' fit in. Are Green Twist, Tiny Kurls, and Mini twist all the same plant?
They are definitely all different selections that just happen to all look the same. If you were to read the descriptions for each of them you will know the origins.
"Green Twist" ... witch's broom found by Dave Horst in Iowa in 1997
"Tiny Kurls" ... seedling selection by Greg Williams in 2005 (medium growth rate)
"Mini Twists" ... seedling selection by Greg Williams (slower growth rate than "Tiny Kurls")
"Vercurve" ... the third seedling selection by Greg Williams (fastest of his three seedlings).
HI all, do wonder if my 'MIni Twists' eastern white pine has died. I planted last fall and was growing beautifully until three weeks ago. All the new growth turned brown. Well, I figured I had nothing to lose so last night I trimmed all the dead off. Not sure if I made a big mistake but having the dead off may help ... or hurt? Is it a lost cause. Its green beneath the the dead new growth. Such a bummer. This thing cost me a ton of money. Thanks for the feedback, please.
Hi Lori ... dead brown new growth is dead forever. You probably did no harm in removing it unless you cut into some live material and took some dormant buds with the dead stuff. If older growth is still green, there's still a chance that it'll re-sprout next spring, but it's going to be weak for a long time.
You didn't say where you're trying to grow your plant, but this species has evolved to thrive in a humid continental, cold-winter climate. If you're one of the unfortunate many who are living under a heat dome this summer, it may be soon time to explore the Mediterranean species out there.