Balkan Pine (Pinus Peuce / excelsa) 10 seeds

This dense, narrow, medium to tall evergreen tree from the Balkan Peninsula is prized by gardeners for its symmetrical habit and formal bearing.
The long, semi-rigid, deep blue-green needles of this pine occur in bundles of five. They densely clothe the short, ascending, closely spaced branches. In spring, trees produce tiny male cones and large cylindrical female cones near the branch tips. The solitary or clustered, dangling female cones are sheathed with fleshy, resinous green scales that turn woody and buff-brown as they mature. The scales eventually open to release winged seeds.
This slow-growing pine has a narrow conical crown that becomes more spreading and open with age. The dark gray bark develops small plates separated by shallow fissures.
This adaptable and beautiful pine does best in full sun and well-drained, humus-rich soil. It fares poorly in parched, hot climates. Its erect narrow form makes a dramatic statement in the landscape, either alone or in clusters. Macedonian pine is relatively immune to the blister rust that plagues many five-needled pines. 

Genus - Pinus
Species - Peuce / excelsa
Common name - Balkan Pine
Pre-Treatment - Required
Hardiness zones - 4 - 7
Height - 50'-80' / 15 - 24 (40) m
Spread - 20'-30' / 6 - 9 m
Plant type - Medium Tree
Vegetation type - Evergreen
Growth rate - Slow
Soil PH - Acidic, Neutral
Soil type - Loam, Sand, Well Drained
Water requirements - Average Water
Landscape uses - Feature Plant, Screening / Wind Break, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier
Leaf / Flower color - Green / --

GERMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
1. Place the seeds in a container with tepid water and soak them for 24 hours.
2. Put the seeds in a small plastic bag and cover with damp sand. Place the bag holding the seeds in the refrigerator for 2-3 months to stratify the seeds, which is preserving seeds in layers of moisture-laden peat, soil or sand. Check the sand and water as needed to maintain moisture. Don't allow the seeds to get soaked.
3. Fill small pots with compost. Place one or two pine seeds 6-8 mm deep (3/8") in each pot.
4. Water the sand and compost to add moisture, then place the pots in a warm, sunny location. As the seedlings emerge and grow, the soil needs to remain moist, not wet.
5. Repot the pine trees into medium-sized pots in the fall. Grow them in the pots for the following season until they are large and strong enough for transplanting into the landscape.