Japanese black pine is an introduced evergreen. In its most favorable habitat, Japanese black pine can reach a height of 100 feet, but in beach plantings, it is usually less than 20 feet tall. Its spreading, loosely swaying branches are orange-yellow in color, and form an irregular silhouette. The blackish-gray bark is furrowed into irregular plates. Its evergreen foliage consists of bright green bundles of 2 stiff, sharp-pointed needles, 3-5 inches long. The large, grayish-white terminal buds are oblong, with fringed scales at the tips. After 4 or 5 years of age, nut-brown colored, short-stalked cones, 2-3 inches long, are produced. Fruiting and seed production are usually prolific. There are 34,000 seeds per pound.