Austrian pine, also called black pine, is a European pine frequently planted as an ornamental in North America (as well as Oceania and non-native European locations like England). It is quite similar to red pine (Pinus resinosa), but differs in its darker bark and slightly larger cones—which fall from the branch complete and in-tact, rather than leaving their lower scales on the branch, as is the case with red pine cones (see the illustration on the linked page).

Many mushrooms are associated with Austrian pine in its native range, but I have not collected under this tree in Europe so I will refrain from attempting to list them—but if you want to know, see Leonardi et al. (2017, citation below) for a list of 106 mushroom species found in an Italian Pinus nigra forest. Under the Midwestern ornamental trees pictured and described on this page, several species of Russula regularly appear, along with a species of Suillus that either represents Suillus weaverae making a dramatic host shift from its usual, 5-needled host, eastern white pine, or a fascinating instance of the European species Suillus granulatus accompanying its transplanted mycorrhizal host.

Austrian pine is an ornamental in North America; this row was planted as a wind block for a Midwestern Walmart . . .

trees are widely conic

bark is scaly to plate-like, and brown

pollen cones

needles are bundled in twos, and are 3–6 inches long and dark green

immature seed cone

maturing cone

fallen cones

Cited above: Leonardi, P., S. Graziosi, A. Zambonelli & E. Salerni (2017). The economic potential of mushrooms in an artificial Pinus nigra forest. Italian Journal of Mycology 46: 48–59.

Kuo, Michael (July, 2025). Pinus nigra (Austrian pine). Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.com website: www.mushroomexpert.com/trees/pinus_nigra.html

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