Tree of the week

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Good morning, Sandy Banks, thanks for the warning. Our tree-loving friend Pieter Severynen joins us again for a Saturday morning day-brightener -- particularly welcome on this unusually dark and drippy Saturday.

Canary Island Pine – Pinus canariensis

From the Spanish Canary Islands hails this tall stranger. The tree starts out with the emaciated look of an El Greco painting, but soon it fills out, it shoots up, and it keeps on growing fast until it tops out as a 60-80’ tall, handsome pyramid attracting eyes across the landscape. Then in middle life the good life gets to it, it begins rounding out at the bottom, acquires a tiered look, and eventually becomes altogether pleasantly round (headed); it resembles the grandparent who no longer cares what other people think about looks, but just enjoys life and being with the family.

The thin, bluish gray-green 6-12”-long needles in bunches of threes make the tree appear soft and graceful, while the surface of the strong trunk fissures into beautiful reddish brown platelets. The glossy brown mature cones are 4-9” long. The tree is drought resistant as long as the drought is not too bad; here it often needs some supplemental summer irrigation. It loves good drainage. Often over-pruned, it looks best when full of needles. It is one of the few pines that can resprout after a fire.

Thanks, Pieter
Email Pieter: plseve@earthlink.net
Photo Credit: www.fitzroygardens.com