Scotch Pine

The Scots pine is the only pine species native to Northern Europe. These pines can live for centuries. In 2006, one of the oldest known Scots pines (estimated age between 355 and 405 years) fell to the ground in the town of Wolfheze (Province of Gelderland). However in the wadden region, these trees are usually cut down after 80 to 120 years. There is too much salty wind for them to reach a ripe old age. Scots pine is the only native pine to northern Europe. It requires so little food that it even grows on humus-poor wind-blown sand. You find them mostly on the sheltered side of dune woods.