Tree · Pinaceae family
Scots pine
Pinus sylvestris
In short a 10-second read
Scots pine (tree) grows to 10–30 m tall and 6–15 m wide when mature. It grows best in full sun, in soil from dry to moist. Hardy to −45 °C.
× spread 6–15 m
Where to plant
Sun, soil, frost.
It grows best in full sun, in soil from dry to moist. Hardy to −45 °C.
Sun
Elsewhere it will grow less well.
Soil and water
dry to moist · watering: moderate
Soil: clay, loamy, sandy
Soil pH 4.5–6.5
Frost
It copes with a normal winter outdoors.
How much space it takes
Mature size.
The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).
Next to a person
Reaches maturity in about 20–50 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.
Calendar
What to do and when.
Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.
The year at a glance
Pruning
No pruning needed — just remove overlong shoots (April–August).
Planting
container plant: March, October–November
Winter protection
not needed
Overwintering
It copes with winter on its own.
It overwinters outdoors without protection, hardy to −45 °C.
- Needs no protection
- Hardy to −45 °C
- Evergreen — green in winter too
Frequently asked
Quick answers.
Does Scots pine tolerate shade?
No, it needs full sun.
How much space does Scots pine need?
At maturity 6–15 m wide and 10–30 m tall; recommended spacing 800 cm.
Does Scots pine survive winter outdoors?
Yes, without protection, hardy to −45 °C.
Where the data comes from
The data is indicative — we are still comparing it with further sources. Last checked 17 October 2026.
Show sources (17)
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Pinus sylvestris
- Oregon State University Landscape Plants — Pinus sylvestris
- Van den Berk Nurseries (NL), stromová škôlka — Pinus sylvestris
- GBIF Occurrence Search API — Pinus sylvestris
- Polleninformation.at Plantcompass — Pine
- Zahradníková E., Rendeková A., Ščevková J. (2023) Temporal variation of allergenic potential in urban parks: a case study from Bratislava, Slovakia. Environ Sci Pollut Res 31: 2026–2041 (doi 10.1007/s11356-023-31137-9) — tabuľka peľového a alergénneho potenciálu drevín
- RHS - Watering
- RHS - Pinus sylvestris
- RHS - Trees and shrubs: planting
- Clemson HGIC - Planting Trees Correctly
- RHS - How to grow conifers
- Invasive plant lists — this species is not on them: EU, Slovakia, Czechia, Germany, Poland, Denmark
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