Swiss Stone Pine (Pinus cembra)

Family: Pinaceae | Edibility: Choice Edible (4/5)

A dense, blue-gray pyramid. The oil-rich seed has a delicious flavour. Seed are eaten raw or cooked and are valued as a food. Bloom Color: Purple, Red, Yellow. Main Bloom Time: Early spring, Late spring, Mid spring. Form: Columnar, Pyramidal.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Nuts/Seeds

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Late Summer, Spring, Winter

Flavor & Culinary Uses

rich seed has a delicious flavour but with a slight flavour of turpentine. — Seed - raw or cooked.; Much valued as a food, the oil-rich seed has a delicious flavour but with a slight flavour of turpentine.; A reasonable size, it is about 10mm x 8 mm.; An edible drying oil is obtained from the seed.

Habitat & North American Range

Rarely found below elevations of 1500 metres, it grows with larch up to the tree line. (Zone 3, Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9)