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Shrub · Pinaceae family

Mugo pine

Pinus mugo

Full sun in a garden 3 ft 3⅜ in–8 ft 2⅜ in × 3 ft 3⅜ in–9 ft 10⅛ in to −115 °F

In short a 10-second read

SunFull sun
in a garden after 10 years3 ft 3⅜ in–8 ft 2⅜ in
in the wild up to 16 ft 4⅞ in
spacing 9 ft 10⅛ in
PlantingMarch–April, September–October
WinterNo winter protection

Where to plant and how much to water

Sun, soil and water.

It grows best in full sun, in dry to average soil.

Sun

Sun6 hours or more
Part shade3–6 hours
Shadeunder 3 h

Soil

tolerates any pH
acidicneutralalkaline
dry to averagesandygravellyloamy

Watering

only in dry spellsless when it rains

Frost

−115 °F
no winter protectiongreen in winter too

How much space it takes

Mature size.

The mature plant next to a person (69 in).

3 ft 3⅜ in6 ft 6¾ in9 ft 10⅛ in13 ft 1½ in16 ft 4⅞ in9 ft 10⅛ in–16 ft 4⅞ inspread 9 ft 10⅛ in–29 ft 6⅜ in
9 ft 10⅛ in–16 ft 4⅞ in× spread 9 ft 10⅛ in–29 ft 6⅜ in

Plant 9 ft 10⅛ in apart.

Reaches maturity in about 50–100 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.

Calendar

Through the year.

Typical for a temperate climate (four seasons). The line shows the current month.

The year at a glance

Planting: JanuaryPlanting: FebruaryPlanting: MarchPlanting: AprilPlanting: MayPlanting: JunePlanting: JulyPlanting: AugustPlanting: SeptemberPlanting: OctoberPlanting: NovemberPlanting: DecemberFeeding: JanuaryFeeding: FebruaryFeeding: MarchFeeding: AprilFeeding: MayFeeding: JuneFeeding: JulyFeeding: AugustFeeding: SeptemberFeeding: OctoberFeeding: NovemberFeeding: DecemberJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PlantingFeeding
Now, in October: a good time for planting (container plant, root-balled).
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Planting

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

container plant: March–April, September–October; root-balled: March–April, September–October

Feeding

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

May–June

Feeding

Nutrition.

Horn meal

up to 0.13 oz/sq ft a year, if the soil needs it · May–June

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Pests and diseases

Common problems and what to do.

The most common problems in Central Europe. Protection is listed from the gentlest option.

High riskMedium riskLow riskRisk for this plant according to the source · no label = no documented level

Pine needle scale

Chionaspis pinifoliae
High riskpestsource covers the whole genus
More about this problem

What you will see

Needles yellow-brown, thin in heavy infestation, shoot tips die back, tree looks “whitewashed” (mountain pine is among the hosts).

The source says: it is an especially serious pest of mountain pines in sheltered places.

When to look

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
May, July–August

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • check ornamental pines in April and July
  2. Biological all seasonladybirds and parasitoid wasps feed on it – do not use broad-spectrum sprays
  3. Chemical — only when nothing else helps May; July–Augusta product authorized in your country against pine needle scale, on the young crawling scales in May and again from mid-July to August
Pine needle scalepest · May, July–AugustHigh risk

What you will see

Needles yellow-brown, thin in heavy infestation, shoot tips die back, tree looks “whitewashed” (mountain pine is among the hosts).

The source says: it is an especially serious pest of mountain pines in sheltered places.

When to look

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
May, July–August

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • check ornamental pines in April and July
  2. Biological all seasonladybirds and parasitoid wasps feed on it – do not use broad-spectrum sprays
  3. Chemical — only when nothing else helps May; July–Augusta product authorized in your country against pine needle scale, on the young crawling scales in May and again from mid-July to August
More about this problem

Diplodia tip blight

Sphaeropsis pinea (Diplodia sapinea)
High riskdisease
More about this problem

What you will see

Tips die back.

The source says: this pine species is very susceptible.

How to protect

  1. By hand when presentprune and destroy affected parts
Diplodia tip blightdiseaseHigh risk

What you will see

Tips die back.

The source says: this pine species is very susceptible.

How to protect

  1. By hand when presentprune and destroy affected parts
More about this problem

Pine sawflies

pest

What you will see

Clusters of dry, straw-coloured needles on last year's shoots; young larvae scrape the needles, older ones eat them from the tip (mountain pine is a preferred host of the sawfly Neodiprion sertifer).

When to look

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
April–June

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • from September to mid-April check for eggs in the needles
  2. By hand April to Maycut out the infested branch if this does not spoil the shape of the shrub
  3. Chemical — only when nothing else helps Maya product authorized in your country against sawflies, on small larvae from early to mid-May
Pine sawfliespest · April–June

What you will see

Clusters of dry, straw-coloured needles on last year's shoots; young larvae scrape the needles, older ones eat them from the tip (mountain pine is a preferred host of the sawfly Neodiprion sertifer).

When to look

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
April–June

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • from September to mid-April check for eggs in the needles
  2. By hand April to Maycut out the infested branch if this does not spoil the shape of the shrub
  3. Chemical — only when nothing else helps Maya product authorized in your country against sawflies, on small larvae from early to mid-May
Sources (5)

Frequently asked

Quick answers.

Does mugo pine tolerate shade?

No, it needs full sun.

How much space does mugo pine need?

At maturity 9 ft 10⅛ in–29 ft 6⅜ in wide and 9 ft 10⅛ in–16 ft 4⅞ in tall; recommended spacing 9 ft 10⅛ in.

Pine needle scale — what can you do?

check ornamental pines in April and July ladybirds and parasitoid wasps feed on it – do not use broad-spectrum sprays

Pine sawflies — what can you do?

from September to mid-April check for eggs in the needles cut out the infested branch if this does not spoil the shape of the shrub

Sources (16) Checked 24 October 2026

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