Dragon's-eye Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora 'Oculus Draconis') PY-nus den-sih-FLOOR-ah Genus:  Pinus This pine's needles are marked with bands of yellow and green. The buttery yellow variegation on the 3- to 5-inch needles is present year-round, but intensifies as summer turns to fall and persists into winter. The scaly, fissured bark is lovely, ranging in color from gray to rich rusty orange. This is a graceful tree when mature, with an irregular branching habit and tilted trunk. Noteworthy Characteristics:  Combines well with deep-green conifers or any other dark background. Use as a specimen tree, or for shelter or windbreaks. May look floppy and ungainly in its youth. Grows only about 6 inches a year. Care:  Grow in any well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Propagation:  Graft in late winter. Problems:  Common pests include sawfly, caterpillars, scale insects, mealybugs, miners, and borers. Blister rust, butt rot, blights, pitch canker, cone rusts, tar spot, and brown cubical rot.

Overview

Height Over 30 ft. Spread 15 ft. to 30 ft. Growth Pace Slow Grower Light Full Sun to Part Shade Moisture Adaptable Characteristics Interesting Bark, Showy Foliage Foliage Color Evergreen Uses Hedge, Specimen Plant/Focal Point Seasonal Interest Spring Interest Type Trees