Austrian Pine

It is a fast growing and long lived tree with some said to be over 500 years old. It can reach a height of 180 feet at maturity.

During the late 1950s and early 1960s in the USA, demand for natural trees was extremely high. Its rapid growth, deep green color and low cost made it a popular Christmas tree. But, the length of the needles made it very difficult to decorate and soon led to its decline in usage.

Today, it is planted in gardens and parks in the UK and USA as an ornamental tree and as a popular street tree in the USA. It is considered an invasive species in New Zealand.