Bought 5 of these to put in the backyard. They are GORGEOUS, unusual and sculptural looking! Everyone always comments on them.
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They were planted in April (Zone 8a) North Dallas, TX and have grown about 8 inches in our ridiculously hot summers (100+ degrees) and in our alkaline clay soil! The are watered 2-3 times a week w/ our irrigation & soaker hoses in the summer. In the winter they will only get water once a week. Northern exposure - but no shade until sunset. (They are the only trees in the yard and backup to the alley behind the house.) We didn't fertilize but we did use root stimulator when we planted them.
Wish we had room for more of these Japanese Black Pine 'Thunderhead' trees! Just beautiful. We planted them 10' apart to give them room for the expected mature size; since all the comments seem to indicate they will be wider than tall.
Highly recommend - we found them at 2 different nurseries, one being Calloways the other was North Haven Gardens.
It is a beautiful tree, however, it did not survive a Michigan winter two years ago (needles browned, and the top half of the tree died)....Read More We cut off the top 1/3 of the tree hoping to somehow salvage the rest of the tree, perhaps grafting a lower branch onto the top of the tree. We bought it about 5 years ago at about 3 feet, and it survived initially, however, eventually "told us" that it does not like temperatures at, or slightly below 0. After the bitter cold of the last few weeks, it once again has brown needles, which we believe means that it has been further damaged by the cold. So, don't buy this tree unless you are in at least a zone 6.
I purchased the dwarf black pine thunderhead when it was 18 inches tall, 8 years ago. It is now over 8 ft tall and 10 ft wide at base. I...Read More was told it was a dwarf, however I think it is a regular black pine as it goes a foot a year and does not show any sign of slowing. When it was young I fed it aquarium water at the rate of 3-5 gallons every 3 weeks, plus regular waterings. I looked online and found out in order control this monster, I would have to trim the candle from every branch, Remember this pine multiplies each candle (read branch here) 8 times its size every year. I have hundreds of branches. I live in the mountains of Asheville, NC . This pine is the coolest tree I ever grown. I first saw it at the Biltmore Estate, and had to have one. I wish I could post a picture.
I purchased this plant two years ago and it seemed to be doing well until this spring. Needles are largely turning brown and falling off...Read More and it is slowly dying. In addition to the fact it was expensive, its a beautiful plant and I don't want to lose it . Is there anything I can or should do to to save this plant?
Mine's a trooper. I bought it two summers ago, in the heat of Virginia, after coming across it in the "TLC" lot in my favorite nursery....Read Morer />
It was a good size, at about 48" tall and round. Broader than tall, however. My husband and I dug a huge hole in our clay soil, threw in some amendments, and in went the newly named "Monroe." This Spring, it has obvious candles, and shows that it is adjusting well. The very top of it is gone, so that is why it was on sale, but we don't care. This pine can just do its own thing, which it is doing, in morning sun and afternoon shade. Has the most beautiful green color to it, and it has a personality!
Winter is a real treat for us with this Pine. Come what may, and it has already to Monroe, this Pine rewards with personality, sturdiness, and modest growth.
I found the below comment on another site. In order to encourage a wider range of planting I'd like to semi debunk, but not fully, inform...Read Moreation that may otherwise limit it's usage. Please note the following:
"This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments"
The zip code 23322 butts up to the Great Dismal Swamp in Chesapeake, VA. My neighbor has a wonderful specimen growing in about 80% shade, in heavy clay, less than 6-7' from a drainage ditch that regularly/seasonly floods, on a fairly busy connector road. It has been there about 12 years or better with no evident disease or maladies of any sort. Being an arborist/ horticulturist by trade I've watched in amazement, knowing the touted prescription for this particular plant's health.
Through nearly daily observation I'm reminded to not forget that individual genetic variables within a species come into play as cultural conditions are considered. Some species have a wider range of tolerances and may thrive in less than perfect conditions, often to our astonishment. And one or two minus' in an application may be canceled out if other requirements are fulfilled. Thus overly strict absolutes could be relaxed in light of the fact that plants just don't read books!
It seems when we think we have all the answers along comes an example to unsettle the apple cart, so to speak. And until we fully understand what makes these individuals tick and can with complete assurance claim such stringent boundaries, please feel free to bend the rules a tad. As a specimen conifer Pinus thunbergii 'thunderhead' is an under-used, under-rated and great dwarf black pine that could add both interest and variety to many settings.
Bought 5 of these to put in the backyard. They are GORGEOUS, unusual and sculptural looking! Everyone always comments on them.
<...Read More
It is a beautiful tree, however, it did not survive a Michigan winter two years ago (needles browned, and the top half of the tree died)....Read More
I purchased the dwarf black pine thunderhead when it was 18 inches tall, 8 years ago. It is now over 8 ft tall and 10 ft wide at base. I...Read More
I purchased this plant two years ago and it seemed to be doing well until this spring. Needles are largely turning brown and falling off...Read More
Mine's a trooper. I bought it two summers ago, in the heat of Virginia, after coming across it in the "TLC" lot in my favorite nursery....Read More
I found the below comment on another site. In order to encourage a wider range of planting I'd like to semi debunk, but not fully, inform...Read More
Excellent plant - very showy candles.