Pinus parviflora

Pinus parviflora
Foliage and cones, Nagano Prefecture, Japan
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Gymnospermae
Division:	Pinophyta
Class:	Pinopsida
Order:	Pinales
Family:	Pinaceae
Genus:	Pinus
Subgenus:	P. subg. Strobus
Section:	P. sect. Quinquefoliae
Subsection:	P. subsect. Strobus
Species:	P. parviflora
Binomial name
Pinus parviflora Siebold & Zucc.

Pinus parviflora, also known as Japanese white pine, ^[1] is a pine in the white pine group, Pinus subgenus Strobus , native to Japan.

Description

It is a coniferous evergreen tree, growing to 15–25 m (rarely to 30 m) in height, forming a wide, dense, conical crown. The leaves are needle-like, in bundles of five, with a length of 3–7 cm. The cones are 4–8 cm long, with broad, rounded scales; the seeds are 7–10 mm long, with a vestigial 3–10 mm wing. ^{[2] [3]}

Taxonomy

Two varieties are usually accepted; var. parviflora in southern Japan, and var. pentaphylla (Mayr) A.Henry in northern Japan. ^[4] The second variety was first described as a separate species Pinus pentaphylla by Heinrich Mayr in 1890, but in reducing it to the rank of variety in 1910, Augustine Henry pointed out that the differences cited by Mayr between the two were minimal and inconsistent, with much overlap. ^[5]

At higher altitudes in northern Japan, it can occur with the related high altutude species Pinus pumila , and sometimes produces hybrids with it; these are known as Pinus × hakkodensis Makino, named after the Hakkōda Mountains where it was first found. ^[3]

The Latin specific epithet parviflora means "with small flowers". ^[6]

Uses

It is a popular tree for bonsai, and is also grown as an ornamental tree in parks and gardens. The cultivars 'Adcock's Dwarf' and 'Bonnie Bergman' ^[7] have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. ^{[8] [9]}

Gallery

• 
  Old tree in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan
• 
  Young tree on Mount Adatara, Fukushima Prefecture
• 
  Pollen cones
• 
  Bonsai tree

References

1. Farjon, A. (2013). "Pinus parviflora". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2013 e.T42388A2977007. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42388A2977007.en . Retrieved 11 November 2021.
2. Farjon, Aljos (2005). Pines. Leiden [etc.]: Brill. p. 153. ISBN   90-04-13916-8.
3. "Pinus parviflora (ゴヨウマツ) description". The Gymnosperm Database. 2025-02-22. Retrieved 2025-10-10.
4. "Pinus parviflora Siebold & Zucc". Plants of the World Online. 2021-06-13. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
5. Elwes, Henry John; Henry, Augustine; Henry, Augustine (1906). The trees of Great Britain & Ireland / by Henry John Elwes and Augustine Henry. Edinburgh: Priv. print. pp. 1033–1035. doi: 10.5962/bhl.title.17123 . Retrieved 2025-10-10.
6. Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for Gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. ISBN   978-1-84533-731-5.
7. "RHS Plantfinder - Pinus parviflora 'Bonnie Bergman'" . Retrieved 2 May 2018.
8. "RHS Plant Selector – Pinus parviflora 'Adcock's Dwarf'" . Retrieved 6 February 2021.
9. "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 78. Retrieved 30 April 2018.