Pinus mugo
Mountain pine
Common names: Dwarf mountain pine, Mugo pine
At a glance
- Light
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Hardy
- Pruning
- Aug–Sep
- Flowering
- May–Jun
- Origin
- Native to Germany
Photo: Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova · CC BY 2.5 · Source
Description
The Mountain Pine (Pinus mugo) is a low, densely branched evergreen shrub with dark‑green, paired needles and small oval cones. In the Alps it grows wild on cliffs and stone fields; in gardens it is mainly used in compact globe varieties such as ‘Mops’ for rock gardens and containers. It is exceptionally winter‑hardy, tolerating frost well below, 20 °C and surviving harsh, windy sites without protection. The needles and young shoot tips contain essential oil and have been traditionally used for cold baths and inhalations; the plant is non‑poisonous and safe for children and pets in the garden.
Care instructions
Plant the Mountain Pine in full sun on well‑drained, somewhat poor soil; it does not tolerate waterlogging. Water regularly during the first one to two years if dry, then it copes well with natural rainfall. Pruning is rarely needed; to keep a compact shape, cut the young, bright green shoots in spring by about half. Fertilizer is usually unnecessary; a thin layer of compost in spring suffices. In a pot, use a container with good drainage as the roots are sensitive to wet feet.
The care notes were machine-translated from German.
Garden year
FloweringMay–Jun
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
well-drained, lean, sandy, lime-loving
The mountain pine likes well-drained, lean soil and tolerates drought better than waterlogging. Sandy and stony sites are its favourites, and even shallow soils over rock pose no problem for it. Chalky ground is well tolerated, and a change between acidic and alkaline matters little to it.
Feeding
Light feeder
As an undemanding wild plant from the high mountains, the mountain pine gets along well without extra feeding. A thin mulch layer of needle litter or some mature compost in spring is perfectly enough as a nutrient supply. Excessive feeding encourages soft growth with little hardiness and is more harmful than helpful.
Pruning
The mountain pine needs no regular pruning, but targeted shaping keeps it compact and dense. It is best to shorten the young, still soft shoots by about half in late summer, known as candling. This makes the plant branch more strongly and keeps it rounded and compact for years.
Overwintering
The mountain pine comes from the Alps and is completely hardy in Central Europe; winter protection is not necessary. For young container plants it is worth wrapping the pot in horticultural fleece or hessian before hard, lasting frost so that the roots do not freeze through. On sunny winter days the plant appreciates a watering, provided the soil is not frozen.
Propagation
Methods
- From seed
- Grafting
Sowing works best with fresh seed from ripe cones, which should be stratified in the refrigerator for a few weeks before sowing. Germination often takes several weeks and needs patience as well as a bright, cool spot. Special varieties are usually grafted to reliably preserve their typical growth habits. Seedlings raised from seed grow only slowly in the first years and do not tolerate blazing midday sun.
For your garden
Grow Mountain pine yourself
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