Pinus strobus 'Pendula' / weeping eastern white pine
Pinus strobus 'Pendula' is a loosely branched, strictly weeping form of eastern white pine that requires staking at first to obtain the desired height. Later, somewhat dominant lead shoots will develop, but will then continue weeping, eventually forming a large mound. Needles are generally abundant, long, and blue-gray to blue-green in color. Branches often grow outward in a sweeping form. This conifer will eventually become a large tree and makes a fantastic and elegant form for the garden that has the room for it.
After 10 years of growth, depending on staking and the tree's individual habit, a mature specimen may measure up to 15 feet (5 m) tall and wide, suggesting that lead shoots will extend at a rate of 12 to 18 inches (30 - 45 cm) per year.
This cultivar is one of the oldest and best-known selections in the nursery trade. Its first mention in botanical literature was in J. Nelson's 1866 work, Pinaceae: Being a Handbook of the Firs and Pines.
Pinus strobus 'Pendula' — a massive, older specimen seen growing in the Morris Arboretum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Photo by Katherine Wagner-Reiss
Pinus strobus 'Pendula' — a 2002 accession in the Benenson Ornamental Conifer Collection at the New York Botanical Garden, The Bronx, NY (USDA Hardiness Zone 7a); photo from 2020.
Photo by Katherine Wagner-Reiss
Pinus strobus 'Pendula' — a specimen at Secrest Arboretum, Wooster, Ohio. This specimen is actually 2 separate plants that have been brought together to create an arc, through which visitors can pass to enter the shade garden. Nice effect.
Photo by Bill Barger
Pinus strobus 'Pendula' — photo from September 2013 on the campus of University of Maine at Orono.
Photo by Don Levesque
Pinus strobus 'Pendula' — photo from September 2013 on the campus of University of Maine at Orono.
Photo by Don Levesque
Example of foliage on mature specimen. This is an example of the branching and foliage habit of this conifer. Due to its weeping nature, staking at a young age may be necessary to allow plants to gain initial height.
Photo by Bill Barger
Comments
Lunardi
bonjour
on vient de m'offrir un pinus strobus pendula mais je sais pas comment il faut le tuteurer ou le jalonner. Pourriez vous m'aider svp
merci beaucoup de vos réponses
Sophie lunardi
Rick
I have some small seedlings that have started near the pinus strobus pendula. Are they pinus strobus pendula or do they revert to some other form? Thanks for any help you can offer.
Maxwell Cohn
Hi Rick seedlings all have unique DNA ... because of this, you're not allowed to call a seedling of P.s. 'Pendula' by that name, even if it's pendulous or weeping.
Those seedlings can turn out to have any sort of form. There's a 50/50 chance that half of them may have some sort of pendulous habit
Lex
Hi. When is the best time to graft from an established weeping whit pine onto a white pine? Now (mid-September) or early spring? Thanks.
Maxwell Cohn
successful grafting is mostly done in January and February. Scionwood should be dormant and understock should be pushing white root tips.
Pam
Hello. Nine years ago I planted a small single lead P.s. 'Pendula' in my yard. Two years ago, a pine shoot emerged about a foot from the base of the 'Pendula' lead. The pine shoot is now about 20" tall and does not have a weeping habit. Is the new shoot possibly an offshoot or seedling of the P.s. 'Pendula'? I am considering moving it if it is a seedling, but I do not want to hurt the P.s. 'Pendula' if the new shoot is its offshoot. Thank you.
Maxwell Cohn
that shoot is coming from the understock, Pam. What you describe is very common in grafted plants. Unless you want a massive white pine tree, you should remove it immediately.
Vereonica Bresztryenszky
PS was planted this Spring, all was well , now (end of September) suddenly both trees are turning yellow. what is going on? What to do? Help!
Ronald Schlak
Vereonica, assuming you have been watering regularly (if not , they are doomed), then all conifers shed some needles in fall (they first turn yellow ). Being planted this year, transplant shock will add to the needle shed.
Carl Hartman
I have a beautifully trained ‘pendula’ that has been in the ground about 12 years. It’s about 9 feet tall. What are the chances that this can be successfully transplanted? I’m presuming early spring is the best time? Any tips?? Thanks in advance! Carl
Comments
bonjour
on vient de m'offrir un pinus strobus pendula mais je sais pas comment il faut le tuteurer ou le jalonner. Pourriez vous m'aider svp
merci beaucoup de vos réponses
Sophie lunardi
I have some small seedlings that have started near the pinus strobus pendula. Are they pinus strobus pendula or do they revert to some other form? Thanks for any help you can offer.
Hi Rick seedlings all have unique DNA ... because of this, you're not allowed to call a seedling of P.s. 'Pendula' by that name, even if it's pendulous or weeping.
Those seedlings can turn out to have any sort of form. There's a 50/50 chance that half of them may have some sort of pendulous habit
Hi. When is the best time to graft from an established weeping whit pine onto a white pine? Now (mid-September) or early spring? Thanks.
successful grafting is mostly done in January and February. Scionwood should be dormant and understock should be pushing white root tips.
Hello. Nine years ago I planted a small single lead P.s. 'Pendula' in my yard. Two years ago, a pine shoot emerged about a foot from the base of the 'Pendula' lead. The pine shoot is now about 20" tall and does not have a weeping habit. Is the new shoot possibly an offshoot or seedling of the P.s. 'Pendula'? I am considering moving it if it is a seedling, but I do not want to hurt the P.s. 'Pendula' if the new shoot is its offshoot. Thank you.
that shoot is coming from the understock, Pam. What you describe is very common in grafted plants. Unless you want a massive white pine tree, you should remove it immediately.
PS was planted this Spring, all was well , now (end of September) suddenly both trees are turning yellow. what is going on? What to do? Help!
Vereonica, assuming you have been watering regularly (if not , they are doomed), then all conifers shed some needles in fall (they first turn yellow ). Being planted this year, transplant shock will add to the needle shed.
I have a beautifully trained ‘pendula’ that has been in the ground about 12 years. It’s about 9 feet tall. What are the chances that this can be successfully transplanted? I’m presuming early spring is the best time? Any tips?? Thanks in advance! Carl