Scots pine
Pinus sylvestris
The pine of the northern forest and the Scottish Highlands; it spreads in parts of North America, so plant it only where it is native.
Hardiness: zones 2 to 7
Light: full sun
Size: about 70 ft tall, 30 ft wide
From: Europe to Siberia
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: wildlife.
Native to: Northern Europe & the taiga, Temperate Europe, Central Asian steppe. Hardy in zones 2 to 7.
The story
Scots pine has the widest range of any pine, from Spain to eastern Siberia. In Scotland it is the tree of the old Caledonian forest, of which only scraps remain. Its upper bark flakes to a warm orange.
Planting
Full sun and light, acid, well-drained soil. It is at home in poor sand and gravel.
Growing
No care once established. It needs light, so keep taller trees from shading it.
Harvest and use
In its native range it feeds crossbills, red squirrels and capercaillie. Northern peoples used its inner bark as a famine flour.
What to watch for
It seeds itself into wild land in parts of North America and New Zealand. Plant it only where it is native.
See if Scots pine fits your yard
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More native and wild plants
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home