Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris)

Scots Pine is Ireland’s only native pine and one of our few native evergreen trees, valued for its year-round structure, resilience, and strong wildlife benefits. With its distinctive orange-brown bark and soft blue-green needles, it brings colour and texture to the landscape in every season.

Unlike deciduous species, Scots Pine retains its foliage throughout the year, providing continuous shelter for birds and small mammals. Its seeds are also an important food source for wildlife, while mature trees offer nesting opportunities and habitat.

Supplied as bare-root whips, Scots Pine establishes well in Irish conditions and is particularly suited to more open or exposed sites. It thrives in free-draining soils, including poorer and sandy ground, making it a reliable choice where other species may struggle.

Best planted with space and allowed to grow naturally, Scots Pine is ideal for woodland planting, shelter belts, and adding evergreen structure to mixed native schemes.

Why plant Scots Pine?

• Evergreen structure year-round – provides shelter, colour, and visual interest in all seasons
• Native Irish conifer – one of Ireland’s only native evergreen tree species
• Excellent for wildlife – seeds and shelter support birds and small mammals
• Ideal for exposed sites – thrives in poorer, free-draining soils
• Strong landscape presence – distinctive form and bark add character over time
• Supplied as bare-root whips – ideal for woodland and mixed planting schemes