Pinus cembra 'Aurea' 

Other Names:  Arolla Pine, Swiss Pine, Austrian Stone Pine

Pinus cembra 'Aurea' is a rare, golden version of the Swiss Stone Pine, characterized by attractive, soft-textured, long, rich green needles during the summer that turn to a golden-yellow hue during the winter. A slow grower, it forms an upright pyramid 15 to 20 feet tall and 7 to 9 feet wide or so at its base when all grown up, which makes it a fine specimen or outdoor Christmas tree in smaller landscape spaces and containers, groupings where space allows, or to frame the corners of homes and other buildings. Being that Swiss Stone Pines are native to central Europe, from the Alps to the Carpathians, they are cold-hardy to USDA Zone 3b, where temperatures can drop to -25°F, and heat-hardy to Zone 7b. Some sources say Zone 8, but we'd rather be safe than sorry. If you're in Zone 8 and would like to try this pine, we suggest providing some filtered sun or shade during the mid-afternoon hours. A very hardy and attractive coniferous evergreen, the Golden Swiss Stone Pine is easy to grow and exceptionally low maintenance, and we've seen no problems with insects or disease. No pruning is necessary to keep its dense form.

Growing up to 20 feet tall and 9 feet wide at maturity, the Golden Swiss Stone Pine is an ideal specimen for smaller landscape spaces or for use in pots, planters, and other containers. It makes for a fine outdoor Christmas tree and can be grouped where space allows. It grows tall enough to be considered a candidate for a privacy screen, but it will take some patience as the tree only adds 6 inches in height per year.  It is a fine addition to rock gardens, conifer gardens, yellow-themed gardens, and Asian theme gardens.

Suggested Spacing:  Best as a specimen or in spaced groupings at 12 or more feet apart