Border Pinyon (Pinus discolor)

At a glance

Lifecycle: Perennial (hardy)
Exposure: Full sun
Frost limit: −12.2 °C

Cultivation

Thrives in a light well-drained sandy or gravelly loam. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c. Plants are strongly outbreeding, self-fertilized seed usually grows poorly. The cones open and shed their seed whilst still attached to the tree. Leaf secretions inhibit the germination of seeds, thereby reducing the amount of plants that can grow below the tree. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus.

Propagation

It is best to sow the seed in individual pots in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe if this is possible otherwise in late winter. A short stratification of 6 weeks at 4°c can improve the germination of stored seed. Cuttings. This method only works when taken from very young trees less than 10 years old. Use single leaf fascicles with the base of the short shoot. Disbudding the shoots some weeks before taking the cuttings can help. Cuttings are normally slow to grow away.

Edible uses

Seed - raw or cooked. The oil-rich seed has a slightly resinous flavour. A vanillin flavouring is obtained as a by-product of other resins that are released from the pulpwood.

Medicinal uses

The turpentine obtained from the resin of all pine trees is antiseptic, diuretic, rubefacient and vermifuge.

Material uses

A tan or green dye is obtained from the needles. The needles contain a substance called terpene, this is released when rain washes over the needles and it has a negative effect on the germination of some plants, including wheat. Oleo-resins are present in the tissues of all species of pines, but these are often not present in sufficient quantity to make their extraction economically worthwhile. Pitch can also be obtained from the resin and is used for waterproofing, as a wood preservative etc.