What is the difference between Haesong (black pine) and regular Yuksong (red pine)?
When reading the plant descriptions of Atelier AECHAE, the names Haesong and Yuksong appear together, easily making one wonder about the difference. This is because both belong to the same Pine Tree (소나무) family, making it difficult to judge what specific differences exist in external appearance and growth characteristics.
Compared to regular Yuksong, Haesong has coarser needles, darker bark, strong salt tolerance, and vigorous tree vigor, allowing it to grow well near the coast.
While the trunk of Yuksong has a reddish tint, Haesong has dark bark and is also called Heuksong or Gomsol[1]. Both plants belong to the pine family of the order Pinales and are evergreens with needle-like leaves that stay green throughout all four seasons, but there is a distinct difference in the texture and grain of their needles[2][3]. Generally, while Yuksong needles are relatively soft and flexible, Haesong has coarser needles than Yuksong and also exhibits more vigorous growth vigor[4].
Their natural habitats are also different[5]. While ordinary Pine Tree (소나무) is vulnerable to salt, Haesong has an outstanding ability to withstand salinity, growing healthily even near the coast where sea breezes reach[6]. Haesong, which grows enduring the seashore, and Yuksong, which grows inland, display distinct, unique characteristics ranging from the color of their trunk bark to their growing environments[7][8].
The specific lifespans of the two tree species or the differences in time it takes for them to grow into mature trees have not yet been confirmed.