Pinus sylvestris Bialogon - Scots Pine

Pinus sylvestris 'Biagolon', is a dwarf form of the Scots pine found in our forests, with a pyramidal and upright habit, then becoming more conical in shape. Its spring shoots are of a good size, cream to pale yellow in colour, and create a beautiful contrast with the older, dark green foliage. Its layered branches bear fairly short and aromatic needles. Its moderate size allows it to fit in small gardens or enhance a bed. It is a very hardy conifer with fairly rapid growth, undemanding in light, non or slightly calcareous soil, even poor soil, and is resistant to drought once well established.

Pinus sylvestris, also known as Scots pine, is a conifer belonging to the pine family, widely distributed throughout northern Europe and Asia Minor. It can be found in the Spanish sierras, the Scottish highlands, Manchuria, the Turkish mountains, and even in the far north of Siberia, on the edge of the taiga and tundra. It is a light-loving species, adapted to drought and extreme cold, tolerant of poor soils but dislikes limestone. This tree reaches 30 m (98ft) in height in its natural habitat and generally has a rounded crown on a trunk with reddish or vermilion bark. However, depending on its habitat, this pine can take on a wide variety of forms.

The variety 'Biagolon', derived from this species, is distinguished by its more modest size, its pyramidal to conical habit in its early years, and the colour of its young shoots. Its growth is fairly rapid, so that at 10 years old, it will reach 2.50 m (8ft) in height and 1.20 m (4ft) in width. Its short branches are covered with dark bluish-green needles, 4 to 7 cm (2 to 3in) long and twisted. They are grouped in pairs and spiral around the branches. The young shoots, 20 cm (8in) long, are composed of cream to pale yellow needles, before also taking on a dark bluish-green colour in summer. Its powerful taproot makes transplanting large specimens somewhat challenging.

The 'Biagolon' Scots pine is a rarity that will delight collectors, but it is also an elegant and easy-to-care-for small conifer, to be planted as a specimen or in groups of 3. It will find its place in all gardens, even modest ones, as it does not require maintenance and adapts to numerous climates and a wide variety of soils, with the exception of very calcareous or heavy and compact soils,. In small spaces, it will elegantly decorate a large slope or planting bed. It goes well with large stones, the geometric lines of swimming pools, and architectural structures. It can be associated with grasses or dwarf conifers such as prostrate (Juniperus horizontalis Blue Chip), rounded (Picea abies Little Gem), or columnar forms (Juniperus communis 'Sentinel') . The qualities of conifers suit the design of a contemporary garden, which prefers the aesthetics of forms, silhouettes, and textures over numerous different blooms. These plants, provide structure to a planting bed, mark pathways or border the patio, easily replacing the strong presence of trimmed boxwood or holly. The key is to play with volumes and colours.