Pinus sylvestris 'Nisbet's Gold' is a robust, broadly globose tree form of Scots pine with species typical branching and shortish needles that are medium green in color for most of the year, becoming golden in winter, more so in colder climates. After 10 years of growth, a mature specimen in measure 10 to 15 feet (3 to 5 m) tall and 8 feet (2.5 m) wide, an annual growth rate of nearly 2 feet (60 cm). Like all pines, it's overall size and density can be easily controlled through a systematic program of candling and aesthetic pruning.
This cultivar originated as a seedling selected in 1986 at Trompenburg Arboretum, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, named after A.H. Nisbet, Gosport, Hampshire, England who evidently found it. It was later introduced to the European nursery trade by zu Jeddeloh nursery, Oldenburg, Germany. At first, it was listed under the illegitimate name, 'Nisbet Aurea' and often seen to this day as 'Nisbet's Aurea.' Both of these names are illegal due to the plant's introduction after 1959 when Latinized cultivar names were no longer accepted as valid. Bob Fincham of Coenosium Gardens nursery formally corrected the cultivar name when he introduced it the U.S. collector conifer market.
