Common Name: Japanese Red Pine

General Information

Pinus densiflora is an evergreen tree with an umbrella-like crown; it can grow up to 30.00 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be up to 150cm in diameter[].
An important timber tree in northeast Asia, where it is extensively harvested from the wild. The plant is also harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. The immature cones are sold for making wine in local markets in Korea[]. It is often grown as an ornamental, several named forms have been developed.
Pinus densiflora continues to be exploited in parts of its rangel, but due to its very large extent of occurrence the plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

The wood, sawdust and resins from various species of pine can cause dermatitis in sensitive people[].

Botanical References

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Range

E. Asia - Russian Far East, northern China, central and southern Japan, Korea.

Habitat

Forests from coastal regions to mountains, along lakesides and on rocky hillsides, sometimes as a minor component in broadleaved forests but often forming extensive pure stands; at elevations from near sea level to 2,300 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	20.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Pinus densiflora is a very cold-hardy plant, being able to tolerate temperatures down to around -25°c when fully dormant[].
Pine species in general require a sunny position if they are to grow well and, whilst the different species have their own soil preferences, most will thrive in a light well-drained sandy or gravelly loam[, ]. Found in a variety of acidic soils in the wild, from dry sandy or rocky sites to peaty soils[]. Established plants tolerate drought[].
The plant is quite fast growing when very young but this soon tails off and the tree is then quite slow growing[].
The seedcones take two growing seasons to reach maturity[].
Plants are strongly outbreeding, self-fertilized seed usually grows poorly[]. They hybridize freely with other members of this genus[]. Hybridizes in the wild with P. thunbergii[].
There are many named forms of this species[].
Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Seed - raw or cooked[, , ]. Quite small, it is only 4mm long[]. The oil-rich seed has a slightly resinous flavour.

The male catkins can be eaten[]. The pollen is eaten[]. The pollen is used to flavour cookies in Korea[].

Inner bark - dried, ground into a powder and then used as a thickener in soups etc or added to cereals when making bread[, , ]. An emergency food, it is only used when all else fails.

Immature female cones - baked[]. Used in making wine[].

A vanillin flavouring is obtained as a by-product of other resins that are released from the pulpwood[].

Medicinal

Pine needles and extracts from them are used in traditional medicine and also in aromatherapy[].

The pollen is used as medicine[].

Oil of turpentine, obtained from the oleo-resin of all pine trees, is antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, diuretic, rubefacient, stimulant and vermifuge[, ]. It is a valuable remedy used internally in the treatment of kidney and bladder complaints and is used both internally and as a rub and steam bath in the treatment of rheumatic affections[]. It is also very beneficial to the respiratory system and so is useful in treating diseases of the mucous membranes and respiratory complaints such as coughs, colds, influenza and TB[].
Applied externally in the form of liniment plasters, poultices, herbal steam baths and inhalers, it is a very beneficial treatment for a variety of skin complaints, wounds, sores, burns, boils etc[].

Agroforestry Uses:

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[].
The tree is very suitable for the consolidation of mountain slopes, growing well even on gravelly insolated slopes[].

Other Uses

A tan or green dye is obtained from the needles[].

An extract of the dried barkt is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a skin conditioner[].
An extract of the leaves is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as an antimicrobial and antioxidant[].
An extract of the roots is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a hair conditioner and skin conditioner[].
Extracts of the seed are used as ingredients in commercial cosmetic preparations as smin conditioners and emollients[].

The trunk is a source of resin[].
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[]. The resins are obtained by tapping the trunk, or by destructive distillation of the wood[, ]. In general, trees from warmer areas of distribution give the higher yields[].
Oil of Turpentine consists of an average of 20% of the oleo-resin[] and is separated by distillation[, ]. Turpentine has a wide range of uses including as a solvent for waxes etc, for thinning and dissolving varnish and paints, a shoe polish, medicinal etc[, ].
Rosin is also obtained by distillation of pine resin. This is used in paper glue and soap manufacturing, as a constituent of varnishes and paints, and for coating the bows of stringed musical instruments such as violins[, ].
Pitch can also be obtained from the resin and is used for waterproofing, as a wood preservative etc[].

The wood is a useful timber. It is mainly used as a source of pulp for the paper industry at the moment, but it is also useful for construction, poles, mine props, railway sleepers, furniture etc[, ].

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[]. Plant seedlings out into their permanent positions as soon as possible and protect them for their first winter or two[]. Plants have a very sparse root system and the sooner they are planted into their permanent positions the better they will grow[]. Trees should be planted into their permanent positions when they are quite small, between 30 and 90cm[]. We actually plant them out when they are about 5 - 10cm tall. So long as they are given a very good weed-excluding mulch they establish very well[]. Larger trees will check badly and hardly put on any growth for several years. This also badly affects root development and wind resistance[].
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[].