Habitat

• native to northern and central China
• cold hardy to zone 4

Habit and Form

• evergreen tree
• multi-trunked with an open broad form with age
• shrubby when young
• 30 to 40' tall with a similar spread
• medium to fine texture
• slow growth rate

Summer Foliage

• 3 needles per fasicle
• 2 to 4" in length
• medium green needles, waxy or "plastic"-looking
• stiff, pointed needles
• raised midrib
• serrated margins

Autumn Foliage

• no fall color (remains green)
• needles persist 4 years

Flowers

• monoecious
• no ornamental value

Fruit

• tawny brown cone
• oval, 2 to 3" long
• scale is broad with a triangular spine

Bark

• exfoliates to reveal brown, rust, green, and cream bark
• highly ornamental
• new stems are green to gray and are fairly thick

Culture

• adaptable to most soil types and pH as long as they are well-drained
• full sun to light shade
• moderately drought tolerant
• root prune for successful B&B transplanting
• probably not tolerant of air pollution

Landscape Uses

• good for bonsai
• good accent tree, if planted to show off bark
• plant near patio where bark can be seen
• specimen

Liabilities

• weak crotches and multi-trunk habit causes limb breakage and trunk splitting in heavy snow and ice
• desired bark characteristics do not become prevelent for at least 10 to 15 years
• expensive and difficult to locate

ID Features

• needles in 3's, with a raised midrib
• needles very sharp to touch
• interesting mosaic bark
• multi-trunked
• medium green, "plastic"-like needles

Propagation

• by seed, no pregermination requirements

Cultivars/Varieties

'Compacta' - A dwarf form, it grows more slowly than the species with the same striking bark.

'Rowe Arboretum' - This selection from an Ohio arboretum displays a more uniform growth habit than most seedlings of the species. The branch structure is denser and neater.