Japanese White Pine bonsai

Japanese White Pine Bonsai Care

Pinus parviflora

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Zones 4 to 7, outdoor only. Native to South Korea and the southern Kuril Islands through Japan.

Pinaceae (the pine family) · Evergreen conifer

At a glance

Type
Conifer
Leaves
Evergreen
USDA zones
4 to 7
Indoor or outdoor
Outdoor
Growth rate
Slow
Bonsai popularity
Tier 1

Close-up photo reference

Compare your tree against these to confirm the species and spot problems early.

Close view of Japanese White Pine bark
Bark & trunk, Dalgial · CC BY-SA 3.0
Japanese White Pine cones
Cone, Crusier · CC BY-SA 4.0

Japanese White Pine quick reference

USDA zones4 to 7 in the ground [2] [5] [6] [9]; UF/IFAS gives 4B to 7A [4]; no source gives a zone for a pot
Indoor / outdoorOutdoor only: Galinou says do not bring it into the house [14], and Bonsai Empire keeps pines outside [12]
LightFull sun [2] [11] [12]; too little light lengthens the needles [11] [14]
WaterSources differ: let the soil dry out fully between waterings [11]; let it dry slightly and do not overwater [12]; water when the surface begins to dry [14]
SoilVery free-draining bonsai mix [11] [14]; recipes differ by source
RepotEvery 3 to 5 years [14]; BCI gives every 2 or 3 years for young trees, every 3 to 5 for older ones [13]
FrostHardy to zone 4 in the ground [2] [5]; Bonsai Mirai says it tolerates well below 20°F (-7°C) in medium to large containers [11]; protect the pot in winter [12], especially in prolonged freezes [14]
Mature height20 to 50 ft (6 to 15 m) [2] or 25 to 50 ft (8 to 15 m) [4] [5] in the landscape; 50 to 70 ft (15 to 21 m) in the wild [6]; no source gives a bonsai size
Growth rateSlow in the landscape [2] [4] [5] [6]; not rated as a bonsai
Season of interestBlue-green needles all year [5] [7]; cones that stay on the tree for 6 to 7 years [6]
Leaf reductionNot rated by the sources we checked; too little light makes needles longer [11]
Main risksMain risks, not ranked by any source: soil that stays soggy [12] [15]; removing all the candles [12]; summer heat [2] [16]

Overview & Character

Japanese white pine is native to South Korea and the southern Kuril Islands through Japan [1]. Kew accepts the name Pinus parviflora and recognizes two varieties, var. parviflora and var. pentaphylla [1] [10]. Bonsai Empire and Bonsai Mirai call it the five-needle pine [11] [12]. In the wild it grows on steep slopes and dry, rocky ridges [6]. It is a popular bonsai subject [6] [10].

It is a single-flush pine: it does not push a strong second flush [15], so removing every candle, as on a black pine, could kill it [12].

Grafting: sources differ. Bonsai Empire says it is often grafted onto black pine roots for steadier growth [12], and Evergreen Gardenworks grafts all its white pines onto Pinus thunbergii [16]. Bonsai Mirai says white pine is almost entirely propagated from seed, with only desirable needle types grafted [11]. On its own roots it is weak, say Evergreen Gardenworks [16] and Galinou [14].

It is a demanding tree. Evergreen Gardenworks calls it difficult to grow in most of the United States, even when grafted [16], and Galinou says it takes some rigor [14].

Identification

Foliage. Needles in bundles of five [2] [5] [8], blue-green [5] [7] [9], slightly twisted, with a white stripe and silvery underside [2]. Length varies by source: 1 to 3 in (2.5 to 7.6 cm) [2], 1 to 2.5 in (2.5 to 6.4 cm) [4], 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 in (3.8 to 6.4 cm) [5], or about 1.2 to 2.4 in (3 to 6 cm) [10].

Bark & trunk. Smooth and gray when young, aging to scaly darker gray [2] [9]. On a grafted tree the union is usually discreet [14].

Cones. Reddish-brown [2] [9], 2 to 4 in (5 to 10 cm) [5] or 2 to 3 in (5 to 7.6 cm) [8], egg-shaped with leathery scales [8].

Look-alikes & how to tell them apart: Japanese black pine carries its needles in pairs and has black-gray, furrowed bark [3], against white pine's bundles of five and gray, scaly bark [2]. Virginia Tech names Swiss stone pine as a look-alike [8].

Climate & USDA Zone

Figures for trees in the ground: zones 4a to 7b (NC State) [2], 4 to 7 (Morton, Penn State, Utah State) [5] [6] [9], 4B to 7A (UF/IFAS) [4]. The RHS rates it H7, hardy below -4°F (-20°C) in the garden [7].

In a pot, Bonsai Empire says pines need winter protection and a dormancy of several weeks at about 32 to 45°F (0 to 7°C) [12]. Bonsai Mirai says Japanese white pine tolerates temperatures well below 20°F (-7°C) in medium to large containers [11]. Galinou protects the pot in prolonged freezes and from cold, drying wind [14].

Heat: sources differ. NC State says it does not take the heat and humidity of the deep South [2], and BCI says it will not grow in the southern USA [13]. Evergreen Gardenworks wants mild, dry summers and says needles start to scorch above about 95°F (35°C) in direct sun [16]. Bonsai Mirai says it can take heat over 100°F (38°C), under 30% shade cloth in extreme temperatures [11].

Light

Full sun [2] [4] [12]. Long, leggy needles mean it needs more light [11]. Evergreen Gardenworks prefers bright morning sun to shade cloth [16]. Galinou and Bonsai Plaza add protection from the hottest summer sun in hot climates [14] [15].

Watering

Sources differ on how dry to let it get. Bonsai Mirai saturates the soil at each watering, then lets it dry out fully [11]. Bonsai Empire warns against overwatering because pines dislike constant moisture, and its FAQ lets the soil dry slightly [12]. Galinou waters when the surface begins to dry [14]. Bonsai Plaza asks for consistent but moderate watering, as the roots dislike staying soggy [15].

Grafted trees on black pine roots tolerate watering mistakes better, according to Galinou [14].

Soil & Root Care

Good drainage is essential [12] [13], and Galinou calls for a highly draining substrate [14]. Recipes differ:

Do not bare-root it unless you reintroduce the root fungus, for example by pouring a slurry of the old soil over the new soil [13]. Galinou keeps root pruning moderate and repotting infrequent [14].

Repotting timing differs. Spring before the buds move (Bonsai Mirai) [11], just after they begin to swell (Bonsai Empire) [12], or late winter to early spring (Galinou) [14]; BCI and Bonsai Empire also allow late summer or early autumn [12] [13]. Every 3 to 5 years [14]; BCI says every 2 or 3 years up to age 10 [13].

Feeding

Timing differs by source:

Overfeeding gives long, coarse needles [15].

Pruning & Styling

Do not decandle it like a black pine. Bonsai Empire says removing all the candles of a single-flush pine could be fatal [12], and Galinou rules out complete candle removal [14]. Bonsai Plaza advises against heavy pruning, preferring selective thinning, and keeps candle work gentler than on black pine because it does not push a strong second flush [15].

Candle work: sources differ.

The BCI and Evergreen Gardenworks views conflict with Bonsai Empire's warning above.

Thinning. In autumn, remove surplus shoots and pluck old needles in strong areas [12]; Galinou also thins in autumn [14].

Pruning timing. Bonsai Mirai prunes after the new growth hardens off, or in early fall, and treats a 50% reduction as safe [11]. BCI prunes branches in late autumn [13].

Wiring. Early autumn to early spring [11] [12], or just after candle pruning in early to mid summer [12]; never straight after repotting [11]. BCI leaves wire on for 6 to 8 months at most [13]. Pines suit almost every bonsai style [12].

Seasonal Calendar

Care calendar by month

Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, shift every month by six.

Propagation & Cuttings

Ease: Not rated by the sources we checked. Best methods: seed or grafting [12].

The RHS sows seed in a cold frame in late winter [7]. Bonsai Mirai raises white pine almost entirely from seed [11]; Evergreen Gardenworks grafts instead, finding seedlings variable and slow [16]. The cultivar 'Zuisho' can be grown from cuttings [12], though Evergreen Gardenworks says this is difficult [16].

Pests

Bonsai Mirai names woolly adelgid as one pest, attacking opening candles and buds [11]. Others named: aphids [12] [13] [14], spider mites [12] [13], scale [12] [14], caterpillars [12] and mealybug [13]. In the garden: sawfly larvae and pine shoot moth [7], pine sawflies [5]. Morton says a stressed tree suffers from insects and disease [5].

Disease, Fungus & Infection

Sources differ on resistance. Bonsai Mirai calls white pine bonsai very resistant to disease [11]; Evergreen Gardenworks says it is susceptible to a number of fungal diseases [16]; UF/IFAS rates it sensitive, though resistant to Verticillium wilt [4]. The RHS lists needle cast and honey fungus [7]. Bonsai Empire lists fungal disease and root rot for pines, and says to get help early because pines can decline quickly [12].

Most Common Causes of Death

No source we checked ranks these. They are the main risks the sources describe, in no particular order:

Sources

  1. Kew Plants of the World Online: Pinus parviflora
  2. NC State Extension Plant Toolbox: Pinus parviflora
  3. NC State Extension Plant Toolbox: Pinus thunbergii
  4. UF/IFAS EDIS: Pinus parviflora, Japanese White Pine
  5. The Morton Arboretum: Japanese white pine
  6. Penn State Extension: Japanese White Pine, Whimsical and Tough
  7. RHS: Pinus parviflora, Japanese white pine
  8. Virginia Tech Dendrology: Japanese white pine
  9. Utah State University Extension Tree Browser: Pine, Japanese White
  10. The Gymnosperm Database: Pinus parviflora
  11. Bonsai Mirai: White Pine Bonsai
  12. Bonsai Empire: Pine bonsai care
  13. Bonsai Clubs International: Pinus parviflora (Japanese White Pine)
  14. Bonsai Galinou: Japanese white pine, our complete guide
  15. Bonsai Plaza: Pinus parviflora
  16. Evergreen Gardenworks: Pinus (pine) catalog and notes

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