Editing Pinus cembra (section)

==Uses==
Swiss pine is a popular ornamental tree in [[park]]s and large [[garden]]s, giving steady though not fast growth on a wide range of sites where the [[climate]] is cold. It is very tolerant of severe winter cold, hardy down to at least {{Convert|-50|°C|°F|0|abbr=on}}, and also of wind exposure. The seeds are also harvested and sold as [[pine nut]]s. When cultivated, it will likely start producing cones after the age of 12 years, much faster than in the wild. This depends on the climate, soil type, [[mycorrhiza]]l fungi etc. To make the tree bear cones faster, the tree can be inoculated with [[ectomycorrhiza]]l fungi, such as ''[[Suillus luteus]], [[Suillus americanus]], [[Suillus placidus]]'' etc. These are the most effective. 

[[File:Pinoli pino cembro sgusciati e da sgusciare.jpg|left|thumb|Seeds with and without their shell, with a one-euro coin for scale (23.25mm diameter) |214x214px]]Pine cones cut into slices are used to flavor [[schnapps]], which is then sold as "Zirbenschnaps" or "Zirbeler" schnapps.

The wood is the most used for carvings in [[Val Gardena]] since the 17th century.

{{anchor|Heraldry}}
The cone of the Swiss pine was the [[field sign]] of the [[Roman legion]] stationed in [[Rhaetia]] in 15 BC, and hence it is used as the [[Charge (heraldry)|heraldic charge]] (known as ''Zirbelnuss'' in German) in the coat of arms of the city of [[Augsburg]], the site of the Roman fort [[Augusta Vindelicorum]].

It is also a species that is often used in bonsai.

''Pinus cembra'' can be found in the uppermost forest belt where it helps to minimize the risk of avalanches and soil erosion. Due to this ability, the tree is valued as a stabilizing factor for afforestation projects at high elevations.<ref name="ulber04">{{citation |author=Ulber, M. |title=Swiss stone pine - ''Pinus cembra'': Technical guidelines for genetic conservation and use |date=2004 |url=https://www.euforgen.org/publications/publication/ipinus-cembrai-technical-guidelines-for-genetic-conservation-and-use-for-swiss-stone-pine/ |pages=6 |publisher=[[European Forest Genetic Resources Programme]] |name-list-style=amp |author2=Gurgerli, F. |author3=Bozic, G.}}</ref>

Like other European and [[Asia]]n white pines, Swiss pine is very resistant to [[white pine blister rust]] (''Cronartium ribicola''). This fungal disease was accidentally introduced from [[Europe]] into [[North America]], where it has caused severe mortality in the American native white pines in many areas, notably, [[Western white pine]] and the closely related [[whitebark pine]]. Swiss pine is of great value for research into hybridization to develop rust resistance in these species.