Native Range: A vast range across Northern Europe and Asia, from Scotland and Spain in the west to eastern Siberia and the Caucasus Mountains in the east.
Soil: Highly adaptable and tolerant of a wide range of conditions, but thrives in well-drained, acidic soil. It performs well in poor, sandy soils and is very drought-tolerant once established.
Light: Full sun.
Height in the Garden: 30–60 ft (can grow much taller in the wild) Attributes: An evergreen conifer with a distinctive picturesque, often irregular habit, especially with age. The upper trunk and branches feature prominent, flaky, bright orange-to-reddish-brown bark. Needles are blue-green, slightly twisted, grow in pairs (fascicles of 2), and are typically 1–3 inches long. Cones are small, conical, and gray-brown.
Notes:
The unique, colorful bark on the upper portion of the tree is its most prominent ornamental feature. It is very hardy and resilient, making it suitable for difficult sites.
