Description
Large, upright, fast growing evergreen tree, conifer (H 15-20 m, W 8-12 m). Crown broadly conical. Branches wide open to horizontal, with distinctly hanging tips. Bark black-grey. Young shoots light brown, hairy. Needles short (3-5 cm), in dense bundles of 30, thin, soft, pointed, smooth, young needles light grey-green, later bright dark green. Male and female flowers separate, male flowers in large catkins, yellow-brown. Flowering period: September-October. Cones dark green to brown, broad-oval, with wide, thin scales, fall apart while still on the tree. Requires deep, sufficiently drained, dry to moderately moist soils, in sheltered, warm, sunny to half-shady sites, protected from dry, cold wind.