Crimean pine or Pallas pine (Pinus pallasiana) is a beautiful evergreen tree up to 30 m tall with a dark gray trunk and a wide spreading or umbrella — shaped crown at maturity.
From the ordinary pine, it differs markedly from the very long (up to 18-20 cm), fluffy and somewhat curved dark green needles that densely cover the shoots. The bark of the Crimean pine has a dark gray color. The crown has a flat "layered" shape, which is very similar to the Italian pine — pinia. Crimean pine is a true southern species and a typical representative of Mediterranean vegetation. In nature, it is found in the Crimea, the Caucasus, and Asia Minor. It grows in the mountains up to a height of 1000 m above sea level and forms extensive light forests. In ancient times, the Crimean pine covered almost all the slopes and spurs of the mountains of Crimea to the sea coast. Lives 500-600 years.
Crimean pine is less hardy than common pine, and the climate zone (-35 to -29 °C) Grows slightly slower — its average growth is about 30 cm per year.
It prefers calcareous soils, but also grows on crushed and sandy soils. Light-loving and grows well in open sunny places, when shading is oppressed and affected by pests. Drought-resistant, does not tolerate stagnation of moisture. Thanks to the powerful root system, it resists winds well.
High gas resistance makes it possible to use Crimean pine in greening cities and industrial facilities. Due to the long dark-green coniferous trees and the dense forking of the crown, the Crimean pine is very decorative and can be successfully used in single and group plantings in gardens and parks on sandy, stony and calcareous soil. Crimean pine is very common in gardens and parks in the South of the European part of Russia.