Pinus pinea

Conifer with an umbrella-shaped crown, very common in Italy but native to Crete and Asia Minor. Erect trunk, rough and scaly reddish-brown and gray bark. Highly branched crown that tends to flatten with age. Needles 8-20 cm long in pairs, dark green and sharp. The cones are pine cones, maturing every 3 years, 8-16 cm long and 6-10 cm wide, reddish-brown, containing pine nuts inside. Requires sunny exposure, prefers sandy and loose soils but grows in all types of soil, only suffering from excessive limestone and stagnant moisture. Drought resistant.