Plant Details

Pinus cembra

Arolla pine

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Common names

36 names · 21 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Arolla pine[1]
  • Russian cedar[1]
  • Swiss pine[1]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Swiss stone pine[1]
Other languages (20)
Dutch
  • Alpenden[1]
  • Arve
French
  • Pin arolle[1]
  • Pin cembro[1]
  • Pin des Alpes[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 瑞士五叶松[1]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 瑞士五針松[1]
Czech
  • borovice limba[1]
Danish
Estonian
  • alpi seedermänd[1]
Finnish
  • alppisembra[1]
  • sembramänty[1]
German
+4 more namesShow fewer names
Italian
Japanese
  • シモフリマツ[1]
Norwegian
  • sembrafuru[1]
Polish
  • Sosna Limba[1]
Russian
  • Сосна кедровая европейская[1]
Slovak
  • Borovica limbová[1]
Slovenian
Spanish
  • pino cembro[1]
Swedish
Turkish
  • İsviçre Fıstık Çamı[1]
Ukrainian
  • Сосна кедрова[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Pinus cembra — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Swiss pine — results[1].names[1]; taxon id 363921; Pinus cembra.
  • Swiss stone pine — results[1].names[2]; taxon id 363921; Pinus cembra.
  • Arolla pine — results[1].names[3]; taxon id 363921; Pinus cembra.
  • Zirbelkiefer — results[1].names[4]; taxon id 363921; Pinus cembra.
  • Zirbenkiefer — results[1].names[5]; taxon id 363921; Pinus cembra.
  • Arbe — results[1].names[6]; taxon id 363921; Pinus cembra.
  • Arve — results[1].names[7]; taxon id 363921; Pinus cembra.
  • Zirbe — results[1].names[8]; taxon id 363921; Pinus cembra.
  • Zirbel — results[1].names[9]; taxon id 363921; Pinus cembra.
  • Pin cembro — results[1].names[10]; taxon id 363921; Pinus cembra.
  • Pin des Alpes — results[1].names[11]; taxon id 363921; Pinus cembra.
  • Pin arolle — results[1].names[12]; taxon id 363921; Pinus cembra.
  • borovice limba — results[1].names[13]; taxon id 363921; Pinus cembra.
  • Alpenden — results[1].names[14]; taxon id 363921; Pinus cembra.
  • pino cembro — results[1].names[15]; taxon id 363921; Pinus cembra.
  • sembrafuru — results[1].names[16]; taxon id 363921; Pinus cembra.
  • シモフリマツ — results[1].names[17]; taxon id 363921; Pinus cembra.
  • Sosna Limba — results[1].names[18]; taxon id 363921; Pinus cembra.
  • 瑞士五針松 — results[1].names[19]; taxon id 363921; Pinus cembra.
  • 瑞士五叶松 — results[1].names[20]; taxon id 363921; Pinus cembra.
  • Сосна кедровая европейская — results[1].names[21]; taxon id 363921; Pinus cembra.
  • cembratall — results[1].names[22]; taxon id 363921; Pinus cembra.
  • brödtall — results[1].names[23]; taxon id 363921; Pinus cembra.
  • Pino cembro — results[1].names[24]; taxon id 363921; Pinus cembra.
  • Cembro — results[1].names[25]; taxon id 363921; Pinus cembra.
  • Сосна кедрова — results[1].names[26]; taxon id 363921; Pinus cembra.
  • Russian cedar — results[1].names[27]; taxon id 363921; Pinus cembra.
  • alpi seedermänd — results[1].names[28]; taxon id 363921; Pinus cembra.
  • cemprin — results[1].names[29]; taxon id 363921; Pinus cembra.
  • cembrafyr — results[1].names[30]; taxon id 363921; Pinus cembra.
  • sembramänty — results[1].names[31]; taxon id 363921; Pinus cembra.
  • Borovica limbová — results[1].names[32]; taxon id 363921; Pinus cembra.
  • alppisembra — results[1].names[33]; taxon id 363921; Pinus cembra.
  • Zirm — results[1].names[34]; taxon id 363921; Pinus cembra.
  • İsviçre Fıstık Çamı — results[1].names[35]; taxon id 363921; Pinus cembra.

General information

Scientific name: Pinus cembra
Accepted name (Kew): Pinus cembra L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Botanical family: Pinaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Pinus (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Arolla pine
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Nut tree
Catalogue size class: Medium
Height: 9.14–12.19 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [2]
Spread: 4.57–7.62 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [2]
Growth rate: Slow
Sources [2]
Foliage: Evergreen
Sources [2]
Growth habit: Columnar, Dense, Open, Pyramidal

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [2]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [2]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [2]
Soil:
Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [2]
pH:
Acidic Neutral
Light:
Full sun
Sources [2]

Uses

Edible parts:
Condiment, Oil, Seed
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Dye, Herbicide, Oil, Wood

Description

Alpine pine seeds are popular as food due to their oil-containing and flavorful properties. They are about 10 mm by 8 mm in size and have a subtle turpentine-like taste. These seeds can be used to extract edible oil and vanillin aroma. The vanillin is obtained from the resin of the pulp wood.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/09
Harvest ends: 31/10

Crown

Crown shape: Pyramidal when young; rounded and flattened with age
Sources [2]
Crown density: Open with age
Sources [2]

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 836404; name ID 380659; Pinus L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1218297; name ID 380472; Pinus cembra L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Pinus cembra — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: Crown shapeCrown densityHeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil moistureSoil textureUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Crown shape: Description: crown architecture
    • Crown density: Description: crown architecture
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .