Dwarf mountain pine (Pinus mugo, Giorn. Italia Sci. Nat. 1: 152 (1764))

Family: Pinaceae

Author: Turra

Bibliography: Giorn. Italia Sci. Nat. 1: 152 (1764)

Year: 1764

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Pinus

Vegetable: False

Observations: E. France to Carpathians, C. Italy, N. Balkan Pen.

Description

The dwarf mountain pine, known scientifically as Pinus mugo, is a remarkable member of the Pinaceae family. This resilient species, first documented by Turra in Giorn. Italia Sci. Nat. circa 1764, finds its natural habitat spanning from the eastern regions of France to the Carpathian Mountains. It is also prevalent in central Italy and the northern Balkan Peninsula.

Pinus mugo is a coniferous evergreen shrub that typically grows in dense, low-lying clumps, although it can also attain the stature of a small tree under favorable conditions. Its adaptability to various altitudinal ranges makes it an ideal species for mountainous terrains where it withstands harsh climatic conditions. The plant’s morphological characteristics include dark green needles, often slightly curved, arranged in pairs, which contribute to its hardy and robust nature.

The dwarf mountain pine is also valued in horticulture for its compact form and versatility in landscape design, particularly in rock gardens, bonsai crafting, and as groundcover in alpine settings. Beyond its ornamental appeal, it plays a crucial ecological role in stabilizing soils and preventing erosion on steep slopes.

In summary, Pinus mugo is not only an integral part of its native ecosystems but also a cherished plant in horticultural practices. Its broad distribution and adaptability underscore its significance both in natural and cultivated landscapes.

Common Names

Deu: berg-kiefer, latsche, berg-kiefer, legföhre% latsche, bergföhre, bergkiefer, krummholzkiefer, latsche, latschenkiefer, spirke
Nld: bergden
Swe: bergtall, kirskål, pingstlillja, påsklilja, snöklocka, vuorimänty
Dan: bjerg-fyr, dorothealilje, pinselilje, påskelilje, skvalderkål
Nor: buskfuru, klosterklokke, pinselilje, påskelilje, skvallerkål
Eng: dwarf mountain-pine, dwarf mountain pine, mountain pine, mugo pine, scrub mountain pine, swiss mountain pine
Hun: havasi törpefenyo
Lit: kalninė pušis
Lav: kalnu priede
Fin: keltanarsissi, kevätkello, valkonarsissi, vuohenputki, vuorimänty
Ita: mugo, pino delle alpi, pino montano, pino mugo
Fra: pin, pin de montagne, pin à crochets, pin mugo
Nno: alpefuru, bergfuru
Nob: alpefuru, bergfuru, buskfuru
Ces: borovice klec, kosodrevina
Slk: kosodrevina, kosodrevina pravá
Pol: kosodrzewina
Rus: сосна стланиковая европейская (sosna stlanikovaya evropejskaya)
Zho: 欧洲山松 (ou zhou shan song)
Sme: várrebeahci
Cym: pinwydden y mynydd
En: Dwarf mountain pine, Scrub mountain pine, Mountain pine, Mugo pine, Dwarf Mountain-pine, Swiss mountain pine, Mugho pine
Ar: صنوبر موغو
Be: Хвоя горная
Bg: Клек
Ca: Pi negre
Zh: 歐洲山松, 欧洲山松 (ou zhou shan song)
Hr: Planinski bor
Cs: Borovice kleč, Borovice klec, Kosodrevina, Kosodřevina
Da: Bjerg-Fyr, Dorothealilje, Pinselilje, Påskelilje, Skvalderkål
Nl: Bergden
Eo: Monta pino
Et: Mägimänd
Fi: Vuorimänty, Keltanarsissi, Kevätkello, Valkonarsissi, Vuohenputki
Fr: Pin de montagne, Pin, Pin à crochets, Pin mugo, Pin buissonnant, Pin des montagnes, Pin mugho, Pin couché
De: Krummholzkiefer, Latschenkiefer, Bergföhre, Bergkiefer, Berg-Kiefer, Latsche, Berg-Kiefer, Legföhre% Latsche, Latsche, Spirke, Berg-Kiefer, Leg-Föhre, Legföhre, Zwergbergkiefer
He: אורן ההרים
Hu: Törpefenyő, Havasi törpefenyo
Is: Fjallafura
It: Pino montano, Pino mugo, Mugo, Pino delle Alpi, Barancio
Kv: Керӧс пожум
Lv: Kalnu priede
Lt: Kalninė pušis
Mk: Планински бор
Se: Várrebeahci
No: Buskfuru, Klosterklokke, Pinselilje, Påskelilje, Skvallerkål
Nb: Alpefuru, Bergfuru, Buskfuru
Nn: Alpefuru, Bergfuru, Buskfuru
Fa: کاج مشهد
Pl: Kosodrzewina
Ro: Jneapăn
Rm: Tieu da muntogna
Ru: Сосна горная, Сосна стланиковая европейская (sosna stlanikovaya evropejskaya)
Sr: Бор кривуљ
Sk: Borovica horská, Kosodrevina, Kosodrevina pravá
Es: Pino negro, Rušje, Pino de montaña
Sv: Bergtall, Kirskål, Pingstlillja, Påsklilja, Snöklocka, Vuorimänty
Zh-tw: 歐洲山松
Tr: Dağ çamı
Uk: Сосна гірська
Cy: Pinwydden y mynydd

Synonyms

• Pinus mughus var. impressa (Hartig ex Willk.)
• Pinus pumilio var. ferruginea (Hartig ex Willk.)
• Pinus mughus var. rufa (Hartig ex Willk.)
• Pinus montana subsp. frutescens-erecta ((Tubeuf) Hegi)
• Pinus mugo var. pumilio ((Haenke) Zenari)
• Pinus pumilio var. gibba (Willk.)
• Pinus montana subsp. arborea ((Tubeuf) Hegi)
• Pinus mughus var. macroptera (Hartig ex Willk.)
• Pinus pumilio var. phaeoptera (Hartig ex Willk.)
• Pinus fischeri (Booth ex P.Lawson)
• Pinus pumilio var. echinata (Hartig ex Willk.)
• Pinus mugo subsp. mughus ((Scop.) Domin)
• Pinus pumilio var. incurva (Hartig ex Willk.)
• Pinus montana var. eumughus (Vierh.)
• Pinus squamosa (Bosc ex Loudon)
• Pinus mughus var. laeta (Hartig ex Willk.)
• Pinus sylvestris var. pumilio ((Haenke) Gaudin)
• Pinus mugo var. arborea ((Tubeuf) Hyl.)
• Pinus montana var. pyramidalis (Schröt.)
• Pinus pumilio var. rubriflora (Loudon)
• Pinus rostrata (K.Koch)
• Pinus montana var. pumilio ((Haenke) Spach)
• Pinus magellensis (Schouw)
• Pinus pumilio var. nasuta (Beck)
• Pinus pumilio var. nitida (Hartig ex Willk.)
• Pinus mughus f. applanata ((Willk.) Beck)
• Pinus montana var. gibba ((Willk.) Christ)
• Pinus mugo subsp. pumilio ((Haenke) Franco)
• Pinus mughus var. leptoclada (Hartig ex Willk.)
• Pinus pumilio var. variabilis (Hartig ex Willk.)
• Pinus montana var. applanata ((Willk.) Willk.)
• Pinus pumilio var. striata (Hartig ex Willk.)
• Pinus sylvestris subsp. pumilio ((Haenke) Bonnier & Layens)
• Pinus × obliqua var. centrapedunculata (Woerl.)
• Pinus sylvestris var. mugho (Chaix ex Vill.)
• Pinus montana var. frutescens-erecta (Tubeuf)
• Pinus pumilio var. revoluta (Hartig ex Willk.)
• Pinus montana var. prostrata (Tubeuf)
• Pinus montana subsp. prostrata ((Tubeuf) Hegi)
• Pinus sudeticus (Anon.)
• Pinus mughus var. pumilio ((Haenke) K.Koch)
• Pinus pumilio var. applanata (Willk.)
• Pinus pumilio var. marginata (Hartig ex Willk.)
• Pinus mugo var. typica (Domin)
• Pinus pumilio var. fischeri (Booth ex Loudon)
• Pinus mugo var. compacta (D.Hill)
• Pinus mugo f. compacta ((D.Hill) Rehder)
• Pinus pumilio var. cinnamomea (Hartig ex Willk.)
• Pinus mugo f. slavinii ((Hornibr.) Rehder)
• Pinus mughus var. longispina (Hartig ex Willk.)
• Pinus pumilio var. turbinata (Hartig ex Willk.)
• Pinus montana subsp. pumilio ((Haenke) Čelak.)
• Pinus pumilio var. atrata (Hartig ex Willk.)
• Pinus pumilio var. limbata (Hartig ex Willk.)
• Pinus mugo var. mughus ((Scop.) Zenari)
• Pinus mugo f. applanata ((Willk.) K.I.Chr.)
• Pinus pumilio var. virens (Hartig ex Willk.)
• Pinus montana var. mughus ((Scop.) Gremli)
• Pinus echinata (Carrière)
• Pinus mugo var. nana (Loudon ex Gordon & Glend.)
• Pinus mugho (Laichard.)
• Pinus montana var. centrapedunculata ((Woerl.) Woerl.)
• Pinus mughus var. lutescens (Hartig ex Willk.)
• Pinus sylvestris subsp. montana ((Mill.) Bonnier & Layens)
• Pinus pumilio (Haenke)
• Pinus mughus var. decumbens (Grab.)
• Pinus montana f. slavinii (Hornibr.)
• Pinus carpathicus (Anon.)
• Pinus pumilio var. pura (Hartig ex Willk.)
• Pinus pumilio var. oblongata (Ten.)
• Pinus montana var. impressa ((Hartig ex Willk.) Dalla Torre & Sarnth.)
• Pinus digenea (Wettst.)
• Pinus mughus var. brevispina (Hartig ex Willk.)
• Pinus pumilio var. fursa (Hartig ex Willk.)
• Pinus mughus var. typica (Beck)
• Pinus mughus var. bicolor (Hartig ex Willk.)
• Pinus mughus f. pumilio ((Haenke) Hayek)
• Pinus pumilio var. repressa (Hartig ex Willk.)
• Pinus wettsteinii (Fritsch)
• Pinus sylvestris var. montana ((Mill.) Aiton)
• Pinus rubriflora (Loudon ex Gordon & Glend.)
• Pinus uncinata var. pumilio ((Haenke) Mathieu)
• Pinus mughus var. depressa (Hartig ex Willk.)
• Pinus montana var. arborea (Tubeuf)
• Pinus montana subsp. mughus ((Scop.) Asch. & Graebn.)

Distribution

• Albania (native)
• Austria (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• France (native)
• Germany (native)
• Italy (native)
• Poland (native)
• Romania (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Baltic States (introduced)
• Denmark (introduced)
• Great Britain (introduced)
• Ireland (introduced)
• Norway (introduced)
• Sweden (introduced)

Additional Images

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Habit

Taken Aug 18, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 16, 2021 by Kai Best (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 25, 2021 by Ernst Fürst (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 18, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 19, 2020 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Jan 27, 2022 by Dieter Albrecht (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 18, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 28, 2021 by Jani Zadrgal (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 18, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 19, 2020 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Dec 26, 2020 by Christopher (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 6, 2019 by Sabine Faltmann (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 22, 2021 by Annemarie Ahrens-Stehle (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 4, 2021 by Annemarie Ahrens-Stehle (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 9, 2022 by Emeline (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Jun 22, 2019 by margarida vila (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 29, 2022 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 22, 2019 by margarida vila (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 18, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 21, 2021 by Palo Rapos (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken May 15, 2021 by Dieter Albrecht (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 18, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 19, 2020 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 3, 2020 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 18, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Mar 4, 2022 by William Coville (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 19, 2022 by Andoni Urzelai (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 25, 2019 by Guillaume Shin (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 28, 2021 by Sabina Hartmann (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 3, 2020 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:677083-1)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5285385)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Pinus mugo Turra)

Specifications

Growth form: Multiple Stem

Growth habit: Tree, Shrub

Growth rate: Slow

Growth

Ph maximum: 8.0

Ph minimum: 5.5

Light: 8

Atmospheric humidity: 5

Soil nutriments: 3