Swiss stone pine, also called Swiss stone pine, is a high mountain tree species and very rich in resin. The sapwood is yellowish-white, the heartwood yellowish-brown striped or figured. The annual rings of the Swiss stone pine are usually very narrow. The reddish-brown knots make this wood particularly decorative.

Trade Names and Other Names

Abbreviation DIN EN 13556: PICE
Botanical name: Pinus cembra
German: Arve, Zirbe
English: Swiss Pine, Arolla Pine, Stone Pine
French: pin cembro
Italian: cirmolo
Spanish: pino cembro
Dutch: alpenpijnboom

Technical Wood Properties

Weight fresh/green: approx. 750–850 kg/m³
Density air-dry (12–15 % MC): approx. 430–470 kg/m³
Natural durability (EN 350): Class 4 – moderately durable

Occurrence

The Swiss Pine grows in the Alps and Carpathians at elevations between 1,200 and 2,500 m. It is one of Europe’s most valuable conifers, prized for its light weight, fine texture, and characteristic aromatic scent.

Trunk and Bark

Height up to 25 m, diameter up to 1.2 m. Bark gray-brown and scaly, with distinctive knot clusters from slow growth. Heartwood and sapwood are similar in color – pale yellow to reddish-brown with fine, even grain.

Characteristics and Wood Color

Soft, resinous, and easy to work. Swiss Pine wood emits a pleasant, lasting aroma and features a calm, warm grain. Its natural antibacterial and soothing properties make it ideal for interiors, especially bedrooms and alpine-style designs.

Substitute Woods

Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris), Larch (Larix decidua), Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)

Applications

Used for veneers, furniture, interior cladding, wall and ceiling panels, and decorative objects. Swiss Pine symbolizes tranquility, warmth, and natural harmony.

References

• Wood Atlas | 7th Edition 2022 | Rudi & André Wagenführ
• GD-Holz Data Sheets – Wood Species | 2020
• Lignum Switzerland – Arve / Zirbelkiefer | 2023
• Properties and Core Sizes of Wood Species | 1989 | Jürgen Sell / Lignum Switzerland