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The Korean pine

The Wood Guide · The pine tree

Conifers · tree portrait

The Korean pine

From the mixed forests of north-east Asia. The pine behind a large share of the pine nuts in the shops.

  • Pinus koraiensis
  • Pine nuts
  • Needles in fives
Pinus koraiensis
Summary

The Korean pine in brief

A large five-needled pine from Korea, north-east China and the Russian Far East, with cones full of large, edible seeds.

In the mixed forests of the Russian Far East, Manchuria and Korea it grows alongside oaks, birches and maples into a tree of 30 metres or more. Its cones are hefty and packed with large, oily seeds.

Those seeds are the pine nuts traded in large quantities: a large share of the pine nuts in European shops come from this species. For animals such as the Siberian tiger, these forests are vital through the prey they support.

Cones that don't open

The cones of the Korean pine barely open on their own. Animals — and people — take the seeds out; that is how the tree spreads.

Botanical
Pinus koraiensis
Origin
Korea, north-east China, Russian Far East, Japan
Height
usually 30–40 m
Needles
in fives, 6–12 cm
Seeds
large, edible pine nuts
Wood
light, soft, aromatic

To be fair: demand for pine nuts and timber is putting the natural forests under pressure. That is why felling Korean pine is heavily restricted in Russia.

Recognising

How to recognise a Korean pine

Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis)Korean pinePinus koraiensis

Needles in fives

Five fairly long needles per bundle, dark green with bluish-white stripes.

Hefty cones

Large, egg-shaped cones that barely open and contain a lot of seeds.

Straight trunk

A tall, straight trunk with a conical crown that flattens out later.

Mixed forest

It does not grow in pure stands but among broadleaf trees, in a cool continental climate.

From tree to plank

Wood and nuts

Pine nuts

The main yield: large, oil-rich seeds, eaten as they are and used in pesto and baking.

Light wood

The wood is light, soft and easy to work, with a pleasant scent.

Local construction timber

Used in the region for building, furniture and joinery.

Not very durable

Only moderately resistant outdoors without protection; it is not a garden timber.

Pine nuts come from several pines

Besides the Korean pine, the stone pine around the Mediterranean and the Siberian pine, among others, also produce pine nuts. They differ in shape and flavour.

Quick answer

Frequently asked questions about the Korean pine

Do pine nuts come from the Korean pine?

A large share of the pine nuts on the market do. Other pines, such as the stone pine, produce them too.

Where does the Korean pine grow?

In Korea, north-east China, the Russian Far East and parts of Japan.

How many needles per bundle?

Five, as with all the so-called white pines.

Is the wood suitable for outdoor use?

Not without treatment: it is light and soft, and naturally not very durable.

More in The Wood Guide

The Korean pine in perspective

A tree we taste more often than we see — in every bag of pine nuts.

The pine tree Conifers To The Wood Guide

Have a question about your project? Just ask — we're happy to help.

Photo via Wikimedia Commons: Pinus koraiensis — Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova, CC BY-SA 4.0

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