Radiata Pine

BUSH INVADER

Pinus radiata

family: PINACEAE

Description

  • Very large vigorous quick-growing evergreen tree from California, to 50m, with dark grey-brown deeply ridged bark. It has a strong pine fragrance, and the whole tree is resinous and sticky. All parts can be allergenic to sensitive people. Also known as Monterey Pine.
  • Leaves are soft dark green twisted needles, growing in groups of three. New shoots grow vertically at first ('candles').
  • Pines do not flower. Rusty brown pollen-producing male cones cluster at the base of new shoots in spring; the females, soft and purple at first, develop into the familiar 10-15cm pale brown pine cones.
  • Female cones produce large numbers of winged seeds.

Dispersal

Seeds spread some distance on the wind, and are also carried into bushland by Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos.

Impact on Bushland

Radiata Pine establishes readily, creates dense shade, and carpets the ground thickly with needles. It depletes the soil of nutrients and water, changes soil chemistry, and excludes native plants. It favours the growth of weed seeds dropped by perching birds. A significant fire hazard.

Distribution

Upper Blue Mountains.

Alternative Planting

Native Plants
Natural Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo food:
local native Hakea and Banksia species, eg,
Old Man Banksia (Banksia serrata),
Dagger Hakea (Hakea teretifolia)
Petrophile and Isopogon species
Mueller's Cypress Pine (Callitris muelleri)
She-oaks
(Allocasuarina torulosa, A. littoralis)

Exotic alternatives
Leyland Cypress
(Cupressocyparis leylandii)
for a fast-growing windbreak

Control

Can be removed without consent under Council's Tree Preservation Order if less than 10m in height.
Cut low to the ground, or inject with herbicide. This method is only suitable for situations where branches falling as the tree dies will not cause safety issues.
Removing a large pine is hazardous, lengthy and expensive, and should only be attempted by experts.

Picture of Radiata Pines
Under Radiata Pines the dense shade, the thick carpet of needles, and the changes in soil conditions favour weeds like Berberis, Cotoneaster, Cherry Laurel and Holly.

Picture of Radiata Pine removal.

Radiata Pine is a very large tree; the removal of a mature specimen is a job for an expert.

Picture of Radiata Pine bark.

Bark is dark grey-brown and deeply ridged.

Picture of Radiata Pine cones.

Male cones of Radiata Pine cluster at the base of new shoots('candles'). The female cones are soft and purple and near the top of the shoots.

Male cones of Radiata Pine

Female cones open to release winged seeds, and may end up as part of your Christmas decorations.

Radiata Pine creates dense shade.

Radiata Pine creates dense shade.