Native to the mountain regions of Central Europe and Northern Asia, where the tree grows to extreme heights. When young, P. cembra grows straight upwards and narrowly pyramidal, later it broadens with a flattened top and slightly hanging branches. It usually forms several tops. The lower branches remain full if the tree has ample free space around it. Pinus cembra is a slow grower that can grow to become up to 1,000 years old. The smooth, grey-green bark becomes grooved and dark later. Young twigs are initially yellowish brown and velvety but turn orange-brown later. The fairly stiff, erect needles grow in bundles of 5 together. They are bluish green and have bluish white stomata on the inside. Cones do not appear until after 70 - 80 years. This Pinus is resistant to urban climates and requires a site with ample light.