The Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.; family Pinaceae) is sometimes incorrectly called the "Scotch pine." The name derives from Latin pinus via French pin (pine); in the past (pre-18th century) this species was more often known as "Scots Fir" (from Danish fyr), but "fir" is restricted to Abies and Pseudotsuga in modern English.

            Scots Pine is the national tree of Scotland, and it formed much of the Caledonian Forest which once covered much of the Scottish Highlands. Overcutting for timber demand, fire, overgrazing by sheep and deer, and even deliberate clearance to deter wolves have all been factors in the decline of this once great pine and birch forest. Nowadays only comparatively small areas of this ancient forest remain, the main surviving remnants being at Abernethy Forest, Glen Affric, Rothiemurchus, and the Black Wood of Rannoch. Plans are currently in progress to restore at least some areas and work has started at key sites.

      The Scots Pine is a common tree ranging from Great Britain and Spain east to eastern Siberia and the Caucasus Mountains, and as far north as Lapland. It is the most widely distributed pine in the world and was one of the first to be introduced to North America. Scots Pine is the only pine native to northern Europe, forming either pure forests or alongside Norway Spruce, Silver Birch, Common Rowan, Eurasian Aspen and other hardwood species. In central and southern Europe, it occurs with numerous additional species, including European Black Pine, Mountain Pine, Macedonian Pine, Spanish Pine and Swiss Pine. In the eastern part of its range, it also occurs with Siberian Pine among other trees.

            In the British Isles it now occurs naturally only in Scotland, but historical records indicate that it also occurred in Ireland, Wales and England as well until about 300-400 years ago, becoming extinct there due to over-exploitation; it has been re-introduced in these countries. Similar historical extinction and re-introduction applies to Denmark and the Netherlands.

            Scots Pine has also been widely planted in New Zealand and much of the colder regions of North America; it is listed as an invasive species in some areas there, including Ontario and Wisconsin. Scots Pine is planted throughout Iowa. It will grow in a variety of soils, as long as they are well-drained, but prefers acid soils. This species will tolerate poor, dry sites but requires full sun.

            It grows up to 25m in height when mature, exceptionally to 35-40m on a very productive site (in Estonia, there are some 220 year old trees that are 46 meters tall). The bark is the most distinctive characteristic of this tree. The bark is smooth, light orange-red, peeling into papery flakes and strips on the upper parts of the tree, and is thick, scaly dark grey-brown on the lower trunk. The habit of the mature tree is distinctive due to its long, bare and straight trunk, (contorted only if lead shoot damaged when young, often by pine shoot moth Evetria turionana) (Trees naturalized or planted in N America commonly show a contorted stem form (Kral 1993), possibly due to introduced insect pests lacking their normal control predators and parasites.) The crown is variable, with a variety of shapes common in wild populations from level branches to near-fastigiated (Pravdin 1964, Steven & Carlisle 1959); open ovoid-conic when young and usually eventually becoming dense, broadly domed or even flat-topped.

      Shoots are green at first, becoming grey-buff by the end of the first summer. Buds ovoid-conic, orange-brown, thinly to occasionally thickly covered in white resin. Leaves in fascicles of two, (2.5-) 4-6 (-9) cm long, 1.5-2 mm wide, always moderately to often strongly glaucous (the only two-leaved hard pine with blue-green or grey-green leaves - an easy pine to identify), longest on vigorous young trees (5-9 cm), short on old trees (2.5-5 cm), commonly slightly twisted, margins finely serrulate; persistent for 2-6 (-9) years; leaf sheath grey, 5-8 mm, slowly eroding to 3-4 mm by leaf senescence.

      Male cones are 8-12 mm, yellow or pink. Cones (2.5-) 3-6 (-7.5) cm long, are pointed conic, symmetrical or nearly so, green ripening matt grey-buff to grey-green; mature in November-December, 20 months after pollination, opening from February to April and falling soon after seed shed; scales rhombic, flat to protuberant and (rarely) hooked (with a full range of variation in between), with a minutely mucronate dorsal umbo. Seeds are black, 4-5 mm, with a 12-20 mm wing (Pravdin 1964, Steven & Carlisle 1959; M.P. Frankis pers. obs.)

            Scots Pine is an important tree in forestry. The wood is pale brown to red-brown, and is used for pulp and sawn timber products. A seedling stand can be created by planting, sowing or natural regeneration. Commercial plantation rotations vary between 50-120 years, with longer rotations in northeastern areas where growth is slower. In Finland, Scots Pine was used for making tar in the pre-industrial age. There are still some active tar producers, but mostly the industry has ceased to exist.