Pinus nigra Molette - Black Pine

Pinus nigra 'Molette' is an elegant medium-sized black pine, which forms a very dense pyramid in a few years, with an almost columnar habit. Its dense foliage is a beautiful dark green, composed of very large soft and tight needles. Its growth is slow when young, but accelerates when well established. Its narrow and upright habit allows for many uses, in a small garden, in a large rockery, or in the background of a border. It is a conifer that is both hardy, not demanding on soil type, and resistant to drought, requiring no pruning. It is content with a well-drained soil, even poor, clayey or very chalky. On the other hand, it appreciates a lot of sun.

Pinus nigra, also called Austrian pine or simply black pine, is an evergreen conifer of the pine family distributed in central and southern Europe, from Spain to Crimea, in Asia Minor, Cyprus and more sporadically in the Atlas Mountains. In nature, it exceeds 35m (115ft) in height, adopting an open conical habit and a dense crown. It is a very hardy species, very well adapted to the warm temperate climate and very chalky or clayey soils.

The 'Molette' variety is distinguished by its almost columnar habit, in a very narrow pyramid shape, its very long needles and its adaptability to the most Spartan conditions. During the first years of cultivation, its growth is quite slow, so that it will reach a height of 1.50m (5ft) and a spread of 20cm (8in) at the age of 10. Once well established, it grows about 50cm (20in) per year, reaching a height of 3 to 5m (10 to 16ft) and a diameter of 1 to 2m (3 to 7ft) at maturity. Its whorled and ascending branches, very tight, are covered with fine dark green needles, 20cm (8in) long, grouped in pairs and arranged in brushes, giving the vegetation a slightly feathery aspect. The tops of the vertical branches are punctuated by very visible white buds. On its trunk, the bark is brown-grey, covered with large flat scales surrounded by deep fissures that widen over the years.

The 'Molette' black pine will find its place in a small or medium-sized garden, in isolation, in a large rockery, as a hedge, planted in groups of three near an entrance, or on the edge of a woodland. It can also be placed against a grove, or use its dark and elegant foliage as a backdrop to highlight blooms or the lighter foliage of other dwarf conifers or flowering shrubs. It goes well with large stones, the geometric lines of swimming pools or buildings, and masonry works. It can be combined with complementary grasses or prostrate (Juniperus horizontalis 'Blue Chip') or globose (Picea abies 'Little Gem') dwarf conifers. The true graphic qualities of conifers naturally impose themselves in the design of a contemporary garden, which prefers the aesthetics of forms, silhouettes and textures to the dance of blooms. These plants, with their reassuring permanence, provide lasting structure to a border, mark pathways, border terraces, easily replacing the strong presence of trimmed boxwood or holly. The key is to play with volumes and colours.