Siberian Swiss Stone Pine

Pinus cembra sibirica Origin: Siberia Improvement status: Wild Seeds per packet: ~20 BOTANICAL SAMPLE - NOT GERMINATION TESTED Life cycle: Perennial Siberian Swiss stone pine is a subspecies of the Swiss stone pine (Pinus cembra), differing only in having slightly larger cones and needles with three resin canals instead of two. But the most important thing to know about this species is that a mature tree will drop copious amounts of delicious edible pine nuts, considered some of the best in the world. They have also long been used (as has the resin of the tree) for medicinal purposes, for making tan or green dyes, for pitch, and for turpentine. The timber is soft and easily worked, so is frequently used in construction and furniture. Stone pines like these are part of the white pine group (Pinus subgenus Strobus) with needles growing in bundles (technically fascicles) of five. The young needles are edible and vitamin-rich, and needles young and old can be used for a nutritious tea. Tre