Description
Large, upright, broad, evergreen tree, conifer (H 20-25 m, W 10-15 m). Crown at first broadly conical, later ovate to broadly spherical, irregular, picturesque. Branches wide open to horizontal, with slightly hanging tips. Bark dark grey, roughly flaky. Needles short (1-3 cm), in dense bundles of 20 or more, thin, pointed, dark grey-green. Male and female flowers separate, male flowers in large catkins, yellow-brown. Cones dark green to brown, broad-oval, with wide, thin scales, fall apart while still on the tree. Easily withstands heat and drought. It grows well in sufficiently drained, partly sandy soils, in warm, sunny sites. Not hardy in central-european continental climate.