Conifer
Ogon
Pinus thunbergii
A golden-foliage selection of Japanese Black Pine, combining the species' tough, structural growth habit and classic long needles with striking yellow-gold coloration that typically intensifies during the cooler months. As with green Japanese Black Pines, it is a favored subject for cloud-pruning (niwaki) and Japanese-style garden design, with the added year-round color interest of its golden needles.
Growing Specifications
- Height
- Variable with age and site conditions
- Spread
- Variable with age and site conditions
- Watering
- Moderate during establishment; drought-tolerant once mature
- Light
- Full Sun
- Heat Tolerance
- Elite; Japanese Black Pine is well known for strong heat and coastal-condition tolerance
- Growth Rate
- Moderate
- Soil Requirement
- Adaptable to a wide range of soils provided drainage is reasonable
North Texas Micro-climate Notes
As a Japanese Black Pine selection, this specimen is well adapted to North Texas heat and sun; full sun exposure specifically helps maximize the golden needle color this cultivar is grown for.
Care Instructions
Plant in well-draining soil. Water deeply and consistently during the first two growing seasons. Candle-pinching new growth in spring can be used to maintain a tighter, more structural form.
Landscape Usage
A classic choice for Japanese-style and Japandi garden design — well suited to cloud-pruning, container styling, or as a golden structural anchor near stone or water features.
Fun Fact
Full sun exposure is key to this cultivar's best golden color — in shadier positions, the needles tend to hold more green and lose some of the vivid gold tone the selection is known for.
