Tree · Pinaceae family
Swiss stone pine
Pinus cembra
In short a 10-second read
Swiss stone pine (tree) grows to 9–15 m tall and 5–8 m wide when mature. It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average to moist soil. Hardy to −40 °C.
× spread 5–8 m
Where to plant
Sun, soil, frost.
It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average to moist soil. Hardy to −40 °C.
Sun
Tolerates several positions — choose to suit the rest of the garden.
Soil and water
average to moist · watering: moderate
Soil: loamy, humus-rich, gravelly
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
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 −40 °C.
- Needs no protection
- Hardy to −40 °C
- Evergreen — green in winter too
Frequently asked
Quick answers.
Does Swiss stone pine tolerate shade?
It tolerates part shade (3–6 hours of sun), but not full shade.
How much space does Swiss stone pine need?
At maturity 5–8 m wide and 9–15 m tall; recommended spacing 500 cm.
Does Swiss stone pine survive winter outdoors?
Yes, without protection, hardy to −40 °C.
Where the data comes from
The data is indicative — we are still comparing it with further sources. Last checked 28 September 2026.
Show sources (12)
- GBIF — Pinus cembra
- NC State Extension Plant Toolbox
- Van den Berk
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (species/match)
- Wikipedia (EN)
- RHS - Watering
- RHS - Trees and shrubs: planting
- Clemson HGIC - Planting Trees Correctly
- RHS - How to grow conifers
- Invasive plant lists — this species is not on them: Slovakia, Czechia, Germany
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