Truffle Austrian Black Pine - Tuber melanosporum   /   Pinus Nigra Austriaca - Tuber Melanosporum

Adult dimensions: Height up to 25 m, width up to 15 m
Foliage: Evergreen
Soil type: Any type; thrives in limey or clay-limestone soils, which are essential for the development of Tuber melanosporum.
Hardiness: Hardy to -24°C
Exposure: Full sun


Properties and uses:
Hardy and fast-growing, the Austrian Black Pine adapts to almost all climatic conditions, growing both at sea level and in the mountain. Thanks to its deep root system, it structures the soil while keeping enough moisture, necessary for the good development of the Melanosporum mycelium, which makes it a good producer of Périgord truffles. It adapts to any type of soils, even poor, well-drained ones. It is suitable for dry regions where it hardly ever rains. The Truffle Austrian Black Pine is an excellent choice for truffle orchards situated in arid areas or mid-mountain regions. The good root establishment of your seedlings is essential for the development of truffles, so a careful soil preparation is required before planting. See Planting truffle trees.

The planting density advised is between 250 and 400 plants/Hectare.
Regular maintenance and careful watering are equally important if you want to succeed.
See Everything you need to know about the truffle and how to grow it.
The first truffles generally appear between 6 to 8 years after planting, which makes it an early truffle variety compared to Oaks and Hazel trees.

Throughout the world there are several different types of truffle, however in France only 2 are regularly planted: Tuber melanosporum and Tuber uncinatum. See The different types of Truffles.

Uncinatum tuber / Bourgogne Truffle: The Bourgogne truffle is appreciated for its strong flavour and incomparable de sous-bois, it is also for its nut like flavour that it has such a reputation for quality. It is harvested in September.
Melanosporum tuber / Perigord Truffle: The famous black truffle of Périgord is loved for its very strong unique flavour. It has a worldwide reputation. It is harvested from December to the end of March.

Which one to plant, Melanosporum tuber or Uncinatum tuber ?
Regardless of people’s culinary preferences, it is best to plant seedlings mycorrhized with Tuber uncinatum in regions with harsh winter conditions. As the Bourgogne Truffle becomes mature earlier than the Périgord Truffle, it can be harvested before heavy frosts. Therefore, the Périgord Truffle is mostly planted in western and southern France.

Other Truffle plants:
• Melanosporum tuber Truffle Hazel (Corylus avellana Truffier Melanosporum tuber), deciduous foliage, moist soil, hardy to -28°C
• Uncinatum tuber Truffle Hazel (Corylus avellana Truffier Uncinatum tuber), deciduous foliage, moist soil, hardy to -28°C
• Melanosporum Tuber Truffle Hornbeam, Marcescent foliage, moist soil, hardy up to -20°C.
• Uncinatum Tuber Truffle Hornbeam, Marcescent foliage, moist soil, hardy up to -20°C.
• Melanosporum tuber Truffle Downy Oak (Quercus pubescens Truffier Melanosporum tuber), deciduous foliage, hardy to -20°C
• Uncinatum tuber Truffle Downy Oak (Quercus pubescens Truffier Uncinatum tuber), deciduous foliage, hardy to -20°C
• Truffle Downy Oak (Pinus nigra austriaca Truffier), evergreen foliage, to be avoided in areas with winter temperatures regularly below -15°C