Austrian 'Oregan Green' Pine
Pinus nigra
Austrian 'Oregan Green' Pine (Pinus nigra) is a tree suited to the Colorado Front Range, rated "Recommended" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List. It matures to about 40 to 60 ft tall and 20 to 40 ft wide, slow-growing, needs medium water, and prefers full sun. Some Zimmerman pine moth.
medium water40 to 60 ft tall and 20 to 40 ft wide
Photos
- Photo 1: (c) Marios Thoma, some rights reserved (CC BY)
- Photo 2: (c) Patrick Hacker, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Patrick Hacker
- Photo 3: (c) Michel Langeveld, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michel Langeveld
At a glance
Will it survive here?
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4 to 8
- Water needs
- medium water
- Sun
- Best in full sun.
- Soil
- clay, loam, sandy
- Soil pH
- 6.0 to 8.2
- Hail tolerance
- high
- Wind tolerance
- high
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Tolerates
- Hot south- or west-facing walls
How big, what shape?
- Mature size
- 40 to 60 ft tall and 20 to 40 ft wide
- Mature form
- Pyramidal
- Spacing / clearance
- ~40 ft of clearance
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Lifespan
- Long-lived
What it looks like, and when
- Foliage
- Evergreen
Who else benefits
- Pollinator value
- low
- Deer
- Not rated
- Colorado native
- No
Also worth knowing
- Fire rating
- Ignitable (CSU): keep 30+ ft from the house, thinned
Common problems on the Front Range
- Mountain pine beetle in drought-stressed pines
- Pine wilt nematode (esp. Scots and Austrian pine)
- Pine needle scale
These are general tendencies for this group of plants on the Front Range, not a diagnosis. Many are stress-driven and preventable with good siting and watering. For a specific plant or an active problem, consult a certified arborist or your local CSU Extension office.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Austrian 'Oregan Green' Pine good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, Austrian 'Oregan Green' Pine is a well-suited tree for Colorado's Front Range, rated "Recommended" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List.
- How big does Austrian 'Oregan Green' Pine get?
- It matures to about 40 to 60 ft tall and 20 to 40 ft wide.
- How much room does Austrian 'Oregan Green' Pine need?
- Give Austrian 'Oregan Green' Pine about 40 ft of clearance from buildings, fences, and other trees so the mature canopy isn't crowded.
- What shape does Austrian 'Oregan Green' Pine grow into?
- Austrian 'Oregan Green' Pine typically grows into a pyramidal, conical outline that is widest at the base. This is the species' usual mature form, named cultivars (columnar, weeping, or compact selections) can differ, so check the specific cultivar.
- Is Austrian 'Oregan Green' Pine hardy on the Front Range?
- Austrian 'Oregan Green' Pine is hardy in USDA 4 to 8. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b to 6a, so it is well within range.
- How much water does Austrian 'Oregan Green' Pine need?
- It needs medium water once established.
- How fast does Austrian 'Oregan Green' Pine grow?
- Austrian 'Oregan Green' Pine is a slow-growing tree. Growth rate depends on water and site conditions on the Front Range.
- How long does Austrian 'Oregan Green' Pine live?
- Austrian 'Oregan Green' Pine is long-lived, a multi-generational tree given good siting and care. Actual lifespan varies with site, water, and care.
- Is Austrian 'Oregan Green' Pine native to Colorado?
- No. It is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
- Is Austrian 'Oregan Green' Pine a good firewise plant near the house?
- Austrian 'Oregan Green' Pine is listed by CSU Extension among the more ignitable plants, so keep it 30 or more feet from the house and keep it thinned and well maintained. This is general guidance based on CSU Extension Fact Sheet 6.305 (2025), not a guarantee that any plant won't burn, a well-irrigated, well-maintained plant is the goal. Follow CSU Extension defensible-space guidance and check with your local fire district before planting in the wildland-urban interface.
- Is Austrian 'Oregan Green' Pine prone to pests or disease on the Front Range?
- Austrian 'Oregan Green' Pine can be affected by mountain pine beetle in drought-stressed pines and other issues common to this group on the Front Range. These are general tendencies, not a diagnosis, many are stress-driven and preventable with good siting and watering. For a specific plant or an active problem, consult a certified arborist or CSU Extension.
