Pinus pinaster is a fast growing pine tree native to the Mediterranean. A typical individual grows to a height of 40-60 ft. (1), however some me be up to 100 ft. tall (2). The trunk may grow up to 4 ft. in diameter. The trunks are upright with an open crown. Older trees often have no branches on the lower ¾ of the trunk (3). The deeply fissured bark is red-orange. The needles are straight or curved, occur in pairs and are up to 10 inches long. This tree has a deep tap-root that allows it to tolerate up to 150 days without rain. This pine has a rapid growth rate until it becomes 60 years of age when annual growth rate usually decline. Flowers appear between late winter and mid-spring followed by serotinous cones that ripen between late summer and autumn, persisting closed on the tree up to 10 years (4).This tree is native to low-lying coastal plains as well as mountainous sites when they are at low to moderate altitudes. There are two subspecies that differ in their soil and elevation preferences. The subspecies Pinus pinaster subsp. atlantica is less tolerant of high altitude has a low tolerance for limestone soils. It prefers siliceous soils with a course texture and humid or semi-humid coastal sites. The other subspecies, Pinus pinaster subsp. Pinaster, tolerates some calcareous soils, especially when they are well-drained. It is also more tolerant of semiarid and mountainous regions. They are both tolerant of nutrient poor soils with low organic matter. Pinus pinaster subsp. Atlantica is found in Portugal, Galicia (North Spain) and the Landes (Southwest France). Pinus pinaster subsp. Pinaster is found from inland Spain, Morocco and the Mediterranean basin (4).This tree has adapted to natural forest fires by developing thick bark and cones that survive fire and are stimulated by it to release the seeds (5). These characteristics along with its fast growth rate allow it to quickly regenerate the forest. In some cases it out competes native species, such as in South African fire-prone shrubland (6).The range of this pine has been greatly extended by cultivation. Maritime pine plantations are planted for dune conservation, timber, pulp and resin production. It is considered invasive in South Africa as well as in Uruguay, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, and Hawaii (7). 

This tree is frost sensitive and prefers warm temperate climates. It is hardy to USDA zone 7. It thrives in a light well-drained sandy or gravelly loam and tolerates most pH of soil. It does tolerate waterlogged soils. It requires full sun and doesn’t tolerate shade. Once established they will tolerate drought. Being native to coastal habitats it is tolerant of maritime exposure. Propagation from seed is common. Maritime pine seeds can stay viable for a long time for a tree. After 10 years of storage, more than 50% of total stored seeds may still be viable (4).

The largest manmade forest in the world, Les Landes of SW France, is made up almost entirely of this species. It is 900,000 hectares, or about 3.5 square miles and was planted for land reclamation in an effort to protect fertile farmland further inland from shifting sand dunes. Maritime pines are also planted for resin, timber, and pulp production (8).

The resin is used as an herbal medicine. The turpentine obtained from the resin of all pine trees is antiseptic, diuretic, rubefacient, and vermifugic.  It is used internally for the treatment of kidney and bladder complaints and is used both internally and as a rub and steam bath in the treatment of rheumatic affections. A vanillin flavoring is obtained as a by-product of other resins that are released from the pulpwood (9).The seeds of all pines are edible. The maritime pine seed is about 1 cm long.