The big name of this little pine takes some explaining. Domingo pine is a cultivator of an interspecific hybrid of two distinct specie, Eastern white pine, Pinus strobus, and Mexican white pine, Pinus ayacahuite. Until a better name in invented, it is known as Pinus strobus X ayacahuite ‘Domingo’. It is typically but incorrectly abbreviated as Pinus ‘Domingo’, or Pinus strobus ‘Domingo’.
Like many hybrids, Domingo pine got the best of both parents, and also stays compact enough for suburban gardens. Although not quite as soft and blue as Eastern white pine, its finely textured and dense pine needle foliage has a grayish sheen to it. Like the Mexican white pine, it does not need much water once established. It wants full sun exposure but is otherwise not demanding.
Young trees may seem to grow quickly, but growth slows significantly with maturity so that trees to not get much taller than second story eaves. Their typically conical form does not get much more than half as wide as tall. They look best where they have room to stay well branched from top to bottom. Because they are not very big, clearance pruning of lower limbs comprises their symmetry.
My parents had a white pine in a corner of their NY garden. As a kid I liked to lie on the soft needles.
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The common white pine is very rare here. My colleague planted three at the farm, and they do surprisingly well. They were the first ones that I had ever met. I was impressed with the texture of the foliage. They are such a friendly tree.
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Yes, love those soft pine needles.
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Thanks Tony, I was completely unaware of this hybrid. Interesting that it does not get so tall because the Eastern White Pine can get to be 150 feet or more and is quite long lived. I had not thought of the needles as having a bluish tinge, the ones around here seem quite a nice deep green.
The ‘Like’ button actually worked today, it often won’t and I do press it every time I read your blog which is nearly every time you write a blog. Hope you’ve had a Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year.
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I did not know about this hybrid either until my colleague who procured them brought them in. I happen to like white pine, but it is very rare here. I know of only three others that another colleague planted at the farm. I happen to like this one because it is proportionate to the landscape into which we put it.
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