Japanese white pine

Japanese white pine carries soft, blue-tinted needles in bundles of five rather than the stiffer two-needle bundles of black or red pine, giving it a notably gentler texture. It grows slowly, is usually grafted onto black pine rootstock for vigour, and is considered by many the most refined of the classical bonsai pines.

Care at a glance

Watering

Check daily, water when the top centimetre is dry. Roughly every 2 days in spring, 2 in summer, 3 in autumn and 7 in winter.

Light

Full sun, six hours or more.

Winter

Hardy once established; check the specific species for exact limits. Protect it when the forecast drops below -10 °C.

Feeding

Every 21 days, Apr to Sep, paused in the hottest weeks.

Repotting

Every 3 to 4 years, as buds swell, in Apr.

Growth

Slow growing. Hardy in zones 5 to 8.

The work calendar

Styles that suit it

MoyogiChokkanBunjinHan-kengai

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