Our range of Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris) bare root trees

We have Pinus sylvestris bare root tree saplings in several sizes and specifications.   The 1U1 specification plants are seedlings (often called whips) which were planted from seed in the spring and instead of being sold in the following November to April period they are kept in situ in our fields and grown on for a further year or longer which makes a strong bushy plant. Their roots are trimmed underground after the first year to encourage a fibrous root system and bushy growth.

We also have Pinus sylvestris transplants which begin as one year old whips which are lifted, have their roots trimmed  by hand to encourage bushy growth and are then planted back out for one or more growing seasons in a different area of our fields at lower density to give each plant more space, nutrients and water.  1+1 means a one year seedling then transplanted back out again for a further year.  1+2 means it's been transplanted out again for a further two years.

Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris) Summary

Scots Pine was crowned as the national tree of Scotland in 2014. It’s the only native pine to the UK and one of only three native conifers along with Yew and Juniper (we don't sell Juniper). These trees are found in abundance in the Scottish Highlands as well as less abundantly elsewhere, and provide a natural habitat that is of great benefit to local wildlife including rare species like red squirrels, the capercaillie and the Scottish wildcat.

Scots pine trees are magnificent, very long living trees (up to 700 years’ old and the older trees are sometimes called “granny pines”.  They have a tall, bare trunk topped by a pyramidal crown. It is said that they "pine for the sky" and they shed their lower branches as they grow giving them a top heavy appearance and bare lower trunk. The shape of Scots Pine trees depends where it grows and how isolated it is from others. In a plantation and genetically selected for timber, it grows fast and straight but when growing alone on a windy hillside, it develops a wide cloud-like canopy.

They provide timber which is one of the strongest softwoods used in construction and joinery. It is the most widespread and commerically important of the UK's three native conifers.

Wildlife friendliness

This is a very important tree species for biodiversity.  A recent study by the James Hutton Institute highlighted that 23 separate tree species would be needed to support just 41$ of the biodiversity that is supported by Scots Pine.  Diseases and climate changes present a threat to this invaluable species.  The study found that 1,589 species within the UK use Scots Pine for either living or feeding on - 17 birds, 130 bryophytes, 539 fungi, 420 invertibrates, 468 lichens and 15 mammals are obligates meaning they depend exclusively on Scots Pine for survival. The researchers then compared the non-obligate species against 47 other tree species to see what percentage of the Scots pine associated biodiversity they could support. Their findings show that the most promising alternative species were sessile/pedunculate oak, Beech, silver/downy birch all supported 15% of Scots pine associated biodiversity but a total of 23 alternative tree species would be needed to support just 41% of the Scots pine biodiversity which underlines the importance of protecting this vital species and the ecosystems it supports.  

Soil and Situation

Drier heathland, woodlands and forests away from the coast but sometimes also planted in parks and large gardens where it provides a stunning evergreen presence. Scots Pine prefers full sun.  It is frost hardy.

Leaves, flowers, fruit and bark

Scots Pine does not require insect pollination but supports a wide range of insects. The needles are short, blue green (bluer in younger trees) and in pairs with a gentle twist.  There are male and female flowers on the same tree.  Female red/purple flowers develop into rounded, brown pine cones with a knobbly bit at the middle of each scale.  The bark is reddish-brown - some say "squirrel red" and which can be more deeply orange coloured nearer the top of the tree. Scots pines give off a musky scent in early summer.  The egg shaped cones open in fair weather and close in rain.

It produces fine light timber. with a pink grain.  The world's tallest completely wooden building is a church in Russia built after 1714 with 22 onion-domes and a height of more than 100 feet, it was constructed from Scots pine logs without using a single nail.

The bark is initially a striking orange/brown colour, later in mature trees turning greyish/brown and peeling off in long strips

Eventual height and growth rate of Pinus sylvestris

Eventual height can be 20-30m and growth rate is modest – 30-60cm pa. Pinus sylvestris trees are very long living, up to 700 years.

Pinacaea family.