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Pinus sylvestris 'Aurea'

December

The golden Scots pine has a habit that as far as I know is unique: it changes colour in response to winter temperatures; not in reaction to the first cold days but progressively. Other conifers change colour; notably the odd furry-looking Cryptomeria japonica 'Elegans', which turns from pale green to deep plum. The golden Scots pine grows steadily brighter; its needles change from a rather drab version of Scots pine blue (it never looks bright and steely like the best) to a shining yellow.  Why?

A week of very cold weather and snow in late November left it looking pretty drab. Three weeks later it is as you see in the picture. What mysterious pigmentation is this? What advantage can it gain from this chameleon behaviour?

It has been cultivated in England since 1875 - though there seems to be no record of who found it or where. It grows at less than half the speed of its blue-blooded brothers. Recommended only for a biggish garden, but very special on sunny winter days.

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