What soil does Austrian pine grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, sandy, calcareous, acidic.

Is Austrian pine hardy?

Hardy down to -29 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

How far from the house should Austrian pine be planted?

Plant it at least 2 m from buildings. Keep it at least 1.5 m from paving.

How much water does Austrian pine need?

Water need: low. Drought tolerance: high.

How much does Austrian pine cost?

It sells for roughly €8.40 to €230 in local shops, depending on size.

What should I plant instead of Austrian pine?

We do not recommend it for most Central European gardens. For a similar purpose we recommend: Arizona cypress, Italian cypress, Deodar cedar, Scots pine.

Austrian pine

Pinus nigra

Austrian pine (Pinus nigra) is a large tree. Light: full sun. Hardy down to -29 °C. Drought tolerance: high. Sold in local shops from about €8.40. We do not recommend it for most Central European gardens.

Illustration of Austrian pine — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

Austrian pine is a large evergreen with stiff, dark green needles, conical when young and broad and umbrella-shaped with age, and it copes well with dry, calcareous soil and city air. It only suits a roomy, sunny site where it can grow past 20 metres. Today, however, fungal shoot and needle blights are killing it in many places, so for a new planting another evergreen is usually the better choice.

We do not recommend this plant

We do not recommend it for most Central European gardens. Further down we show what to plant instead.

Watch out for

In Central Europe it has been dying on a large scale in recent years: trees weakened by drought are attacked by Diplodia (Sphaeropsis) tip blight, which browns the new shoots and then whole branches and can kill the tree within a few years. Dothistroma red band needle blight also strips the lower branches. Only a small fraction of planted stands is still healthy and treatment in a garden is hardly feasible, so new planting is not recommended. It is not native here, and stands planted on dolomite slopes and sand are a conservation problem, so do not plant it near protected grasslands.

Key facts

Light: Full sun
Water need: Low
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 4.5 m × 2.5 m
Hardiness: down to -29 °C
Foliage: Evergreen

Group	Large tree
Light	Full sun
Size after 10 years	4.5 m × 2.5 m
Ultimate size	12–25 m × 6–12 m
Hardiness	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous, Acidic
Foliage	Evergreen
Flowering	no data
Water need	Low
Drought tolerance	High
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	at least 2 m
Distance from paving	at least 1.5 m
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	600 cm
For dogs	no data
For cats	no data
For children	no data
Typical price	from about €8.40

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

What to plant instead

Recommended plants that do the same job, with similar characteristics.

Arizona cypress

Cupressus arizonica 3.5 m × 1 m after 10 years

A blue-grey, scale-leaved evergreen that is mostly sold in slim, columnar forms: a handsome specimen in a warm, sunny spot, a screen when planted in a…

Large tree

Full sun

from about €22

Italian cypress

Cupressus sempervirens 3 m × 60 cm after 10 years

The pencil-thin, dark green column that defines Mediterranean landscapes: gardens almost always get the narrow columnar forms, which stay only one…

Large tree

Full sun

from about €24

Deodar cedar

Cedrus deodara 4.5 m × 3 m after 10 years

The most graceful of the cedars: a broad cone when young, with a nodding tip and drooping branch ends, and long, soft, grey-green needles in clusters.…

Large tree

Full sun

from about €24

Scots pine

Pinus sylvestris 4.5 m × 2.5 m after 10 years

A fast-growing native pine that starts out conical and later forms a loose, umbrella-like crown, with striking orange-red bark on the upper trunk…

Large tree

Full sun

from about €8.30

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
20-30 cm	approx. €8.60
30-40 cm	approx. €14
40-50 cm	approx. €83
100-120 cm	approx. €74
175-200 cm	approx. €230
size not stated	approx. €23 – €130

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 13, 2026 · How our data is made

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Austrian pine vs Eastern white pine Austrian pine vs Italian cypress Austrian pine vs Scots pine

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