Conifer whose trunk is often twisted, with a somewhat irregular and not particularly dense foliage. It produces abundant, narrow, conical pine cones that do not mature until autumn of the following year. These cones remain on the branch for a long time which is why old ones are full. One of the most widespread and distinctive trees of lowland Mediterranean areas where it is taking over from the holm oak.

It has a great ability to regenerate after a fire, when its seeds disperse as the cones burst during or following the fire. In the past, in Catalonia pine branches were hung over the door to a house to indicate that wine was sold there.