Also sold as Afghan or Mondell pine, eldarica is widely considered the best all-around pine for the Phoenix area. It handles heat, wind and alkaline soil, and it gives a tall, evergreen, woodsy silhouette that few desert trees can match.
Living with it in the Phoenix Valley
Watering
Follow the tree schedule in our Landscape Care guide. The most common mistake is not adding water as the tree grows. Large trees that fall short in a long, hot summer can brown and die suddenly in late summer, so water deeply and out toward the canopy edge as it matures.
Pruning
It needs very little. Raise the lower limbs gradually as it grows. Avoid thinning or cutting back the crown by more than a small amount, since exposed bark sunburns.
Heat stress
Branch and shoot dieback in late summer and fall usually points to heat stress and too little water.
Pests
Aphids can appear on spring growth. Well-watered trees are much less troubled than stressed ones.
How our designers use it
Screening and windbreaks
Tall and evergreen, it blocks views and wind along a property line.
A woodsy backdrop
Planted in groups, it gives a desert yard a forest-like backdrop and a strong skyline.
Large lots
Its size suits acreage and large yards. On a small lot it quickly crowds the house.
Good to know
Around the pool
We keep pines well away from pools. Needles, cones and spring pollen end up in the water and the filter.
Pollen
It sheds large amounts of yellow pollen in early spring, which coats nearby patios, cars and furniture.
