Pinus mugo is the scientific name for the shrub called “Mugo pine,” a dwarf-sized pine plant, which is native to subalpine zones in central and southern Europe. The word “mugo” is Italian for “small mountain pine.” Today, this plant thrives at elevations between 3,300 to 7,300 feet in the Alps, Pyrenees, Carpatians, and Balkin Mountains.
Figure 1. Mugo Pine (adult!). This shrub has been growing for years in my garden, yet the shrub mostly remains the same size!
Figure 2. Mugo Pine closeup.
This perennial is a hearty (tough) plant that is cultivated throughout the world.
It can reach 15 to 20 feet in height and 20 to 30 feet in width, but some varieties average 2 to 5 feet tall. It is a slow-growing plant that can live in all types of soil. For the most part, this dwarf-pine tree gains only a few inches in height per year. It is also drought-tolerant. It is a plant that is well suited for growing in gardens. It prefers full-sun conditions. These pines can live up to 50 years.
It prefers full sun and can tolerate moderately hot temperatures. This tree does quite well in southern California (we have two trees in our gardent).
Genetic studies show that Pinus mugo persisted in glacial refugia (survival areas) during the last ice ages (e.g., north of the Alps). After the glaciers receded, the mugo populations reconnected allowing the gene flow and expansion across the European mountain chains into harsh alpine environments. After the glaciers receded, these populations of mugo reconnected, allowing genetic mixture and subsequent and expansion across the European mountain chains.
Main reference used for text: Wikipedia, 2026.
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