The Austrian Pine (Pinus nigra) is a large, hardy evergreen known for its dark green, stiff needles in bundles of two, tolerating urban pollution, salt, drought, and poor soils, making it great for screens, windbreaks, or specimen trees, though susceptible to fungal issues like Diplodia tip blight. Young trees are pyramidal but develop broad, flat-topped crowns with age, growing 40-60+ feet tall with a wide spread, featuring furrowed, dark bark and prickly brown cones.
Key Characteristics
Needles: Dark green, 3-6 inches long, stiff, in pairs.
Shape: Pyramidal when young, becoming flat-topped or irregular with age.
Bark: Dark brown to black, deeply furrowed and plated on mature trees.
Cones: Brown, 2-3 inches long, with a small prickle on scale tips.
Growth: Medium to fast, tolerates sun, wind, salt, and varied soils (clay, sandy, alkaline). 
Uses & Considerations
Landscaping: Excellent for windbreaks, privacy screens, and as large specimen trees due to dense habit and resilience.
Urban Tolerance: Hardy in harsh city conditions, tolerating pollution and road salt well.
Problems: Vulnerable to Diplodia tip blight, which causes branch and needle dieback, and other pests.
Identification: Needles are tough and don't snap easily like Red Pine.
Growth & Size
Height: 40-60 feet, sometimes taller.
Spread: 25-40 feet wide.
Sun: Full sun.