Pinus canariensis (Canary Pine)

One to 100 feet tall conifer from the genus Pinus and from the family Pinaceae, native to the Canary Islands in the mountains, on Tenerife the pine is still to find  at altitudes of 8000 feet. It is hardy to 14°F only for short time, but not hardy in Germany. Although it is theoretically hardy on the German North Sea island of Helgoland, our outdoor cultivation trials failed there, because the tree has not proved as salt wind tolerant. In Brazil it may become important for timber, in Brazil it would have no problems with the climate, especially since the climate in Lucianópolis is similar to the of the Canary Islands, but more humid and continental.

The adult grass-green needles are in threes and to 12 inches long, so it is one of the most beautiful pine trees at all. The juvenile needles in the first years are short and light blue. In Germany, it could be replaced by the very similar Pinus engelmannii ersetzt werden. The long needles catch the humidity in the riising on the northern slopes of the islands of Tenerife and La Palma trade winds and the water drops dripp from the needles to the ground, from which the basic water supply of the Canary Islands depend. The cones are relatively large and conical.

The wood is suitable as construction wood and also similars to the wood of the in Brazil grown pine species like  Pinus taeda. This species also could have one future as ornamental tree in Southern Brazil because of its long needles.

One of our specimens in our garden in December 2012.

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Updated by Joachim Jaeck on October 13th, 2013