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Afghan Pine Tree, Pinus eldarica

Afghan Pine Tree, Pinus eldarica

Afghan Pine Tree, Pinus eldarica	Afghan Pine Tree, Pinus eldarica
Two Needle Bundle	Compare Rare Three Needle

Afghan Pine Tree Pinus eldarica, Pine Family: ( Pinaceae ), Afghan Pine Tree. Also called: Eldarica Pine, Desert Pine, Mondell Pine, or Elder Pine. Eldarica pine is fast growing and does fairly well the first 5 to 10 years in any soil that is well drained. Is drought tolerant, in fact, it is totally intolerant of rainfall above 20 inches a year or regular irrigation from an irrigation system. It responds well to fertilizer but too much can contribute to the root disease problems. Commonly sold as a living Christmas tree. Loses lots of needles, high maintance tree. Identification Tips: Leaves: Needles 4 to 6 inches long borne in bundles of 2 or rarely 3; new growth blue-green, older growth darker green Fruit: Cones; reddish brown to brown; borne singly or in whorls of 3 to 6; cones are ovate-conic, approximately 4 inches in length; unarmed Bark: Silvery gray and shiny when young; becoming reddish brown; fissured and scaly on older trunks We do not recommend this tree. Root diseases start to hit and take the tree out rather quickly once the soil pathogens start to attack the root system. Usually after 10 years of growth. For example all the Afghan Pines in Texas are now dying, probably from the spread of the fungal disease Diplodia pinea. (USDA Forest Disease Leaflet 161) Height: 30 - 50 feet in height and spread of 15 - 25 feet at maturity. Buds: Inconspicuous flowers. Bud Time: Mid March - May. Leaves: Needles, sheath of 2, rarely 3, longer than P. halepensis and shorter than P. canarensis. Bark: Medium to dark brown and with a medium heavy texture. Cones: Cones with true cone shape, 2 to 3 1/8 inches long . Found: Landscape. Elevation: 200 and 1,500 Feet. A desert pine tree. Habitat: Native of Russia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Miscellaneous: Photos Taken at Arrowhead Ranch Glendale. February 23, 2006.