Chinese white pine (pinus armandii)

Zone 5b

The Chinese white pine or Armand Pine is a species of pine native to China found from southern Shanxi west to southern Gansu and south to Yunnan, with peripheral populations in Anhui. It grows at altitudes of 2,200 to 3,000 m in Taiwan and also extends a short distance into northern Burma. In Chinese, it is known as “Mount Hua Pine”. It grows at 1,000–3,300 m above sea level, with lower altitudes mainly in the northern part of the range. It is a tree up to 35 m (115 ft) tall, with a trunk up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) in diameter. It is part of the white pine group. The seeds are large and edible, 10 to 16 mm (0.39 to 0.63 in) long and have only one vestigial wing. The cones mature during their second year, this is a juvenile female cone.

Pinus armandii seeds are harvested and sold like pine nuts. The wood is used for general construction purposes; the species is important in forest plantations in parts of China. It is also grown as an ornamental tree in parks and large gardens in Europe and North America. The scientific name commemorates the French missionary and naturalist Armand David, who first introduced it to Europe