Japanese red pine is native, not surprisingly, to Japan, along with the Korean peninsula,
northeastern China, and extreme southeastern Russia. In Japan it is called aka-matsu (アカマツ);
in China 赤松; and in Korea 소나무: “red pine.”
It is not found in the wild in North America, though it is widely planted in gardens.
This cultivated variety is called Umbraculifera because of its umbrella-like crown. There are
many other cultivars.
Plants: Small trees 10-20′ (3-6.1 m) tall and 15-25′ (4.6-7.6 m) around.
In the wild it can reach 100′ (30 m). It has orange-red bark, and irregular, multiply branched but graceful form.
Leaves: Needles are bright green, in bundles of 2, 3-4½″ (8-12 cm) long.
Fruits: Cones are oval or oblong, copious, and 1½-2½″ (4-7 cm) long.