Tree Trail

32. Pinus nigra dalmatica

Endemic to coastal areas and islands off the coast of Croatia, this species is threatened in its natural habitat by over grazing, especially by feral goats. This subspecies only attains modest stature, not exceeding 15 metres (49 feet) tall mainly due to its poor environment and exposure to wind from the sea. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has rated this species as “endangered”. This specimen was part of a consignment of trees received from the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh (RBGE) as part of the International Conifer Conservation Programme (ICCP). Heriot-Watt University struck a relationship with the RBGE to help with conservation work and it allows us to obtain rare trees to add to the wide variety of species already on campus.