AusBonsai

Hi all.

If Iwas to get some pine cones for there seeds, how can you tell wheather it is a Black pine other than having only the two needles? Is there any other differences that a mature tree has?

Cheers
Mick

Pinus thunbergii isn't the only pine which has two needles to a sheath. It does have longer needles though up to about 4cm and the bark, particularly on a mature tree, is very rough, craggy and fissured.

There are multiple differences between Japanese black pine and other two needle pines and you can teel the difference from multiple clues.

Needle color, twist , length, nice white buds, dark fissured bark, male "flowers", color of cone when young, time it takes to mature and the cones are actually quite small compared to lots of other pine cones.

There are some usefull reference books or google it.

When would be the best time of year to collect the cones for their seeds?

Cheers
Mick