What are the growing environment requirements for the Buddhist pine?

Alternative names for the Buddhist pine

Luohanshan, Evergreen Luohanshan, Tushan, Money Pine, Xianbai, Luohan

Morphological characteristics of the Buddhist pine

The Buddhist pine (the original variety) is a tree up to 20 m tall with a diameter at breast height of up to 60 cm; the bark is gray or grayish brown, shallowly longitudinally fissured, and flakes off in thin plates; the branches spread out or ascend obliquely and are relatively dense.

The leaves are spirally arranged, linear-lanceolate, slightly curved, 7-12 cm long and 7-10 mm wide, with a pointed apex and a wedge-shaped base; the upper surface is dark green and glossy with a distinctly raised midrib, while the lower surface is whitish, grayish green, or pale green with a slightly raised midrib.

Growth habits of the Buddhist pine

It prefers a warm, humid climate and has weak cold tolerance; in North China it is grown in pots for ornamental purposes; it is highly shade-tolerant; it prefers well-drained, moist sandy loam and is highly adaptable to soil, able to survive even on saline-alkali soil; it has strong resistance to various polluting gases such as sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and nitrogen oxides; and it has strong resistance to pests and diseases.

It is produced in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hunan, Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Guangdong, and other provinces and regions, and is cultivated in courtyards as an ornamental tree.

Main value of the Buddhist pine

Ornamental: Because the Buddhist pine has an antique and elegant tree form and a unique combination of seed and seed stalk, it is much admired, and it is widely planted in temples and residential courtyards in the south. It can be planted in pairs in front of a gate, as a solitary specimen in a central courtyard, or in a corner by a wall paired with rockery and lake stones. The variegated-leaf Buddhist pine can be planted in flower platforms and can also be used in flower beds or grown in pots for indoor appreciation. The small-leaf Buddhist pine can also be planted as a courtyard hedge.

Medicinal: The sap, roots, bark, and leaves of the Buddhist pine can all be used as medicine, and can stop bleeding, relieve pain, and relieve cough, among other effects, making it a very good medicinal material.

Economic: The wood is fine and uniform in texture and easy to process. It can be used to make furniture, utensils, stationery, and farm tools.