Thrives in a light well-drained sandy or gravelly loam. Dislikes poorly drained moorland soils. Established plants tolerate drought. This species prefers a cool moist climate. Leaf secretions inhibit the germination of seeds, thereby inhibiting the growth of other plants below the tree. This species is sometimes cultivated for its edible seed, there are some named varieties. It is one of the main species utilized for its edible seeds, being gathered from cultivated and wild trees. Large quantities of the seeds are exported as a food crop from N. China. Plants bear cones when they are 3.5 metres tall in Cornwall. Trees are slow growing when young. Growth in the south-east of Britain is generally poor but trees in the west and north are healthy and growing well with average annual height increases of around 25cm and girth increases of 3cm or more. Plants are strongly outbreeding, self-fertilized seed usually grows poorly. They hybridize freely with other members of this genus. The cones do not open, seed is extracted by breaking up the soft scales of the cone. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus.

Seed - raw or cooked. Rich in oil. A soft texture with a hint of resin in the flavor, it makes a delicious snack and can also be used as a staple food. The seed can also be dried and ground into a powder then used as a flavoring and thickener in soups etc. Fairly large, the seeds are up to16mm x 12mm. A vanillin flavoring is obtained as a by-product of other resins that are released from the pulpwood.

It is best to sow the seed in individual pots in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe if this is possible otherwise in late winter. A short stratification of 6 weeks at 4°c can improve the germination of stored seed. Plant seedlings out into their permanent positions as soon as possible and protect them for their first winter or two. Plants have a very sparse root system and the sooner they are planted into their permanent positions the better they will grow. Trees should be planted into their permanent positions when they are quite small, between 30 and 90cm. We actually plant them out when they are about 5 - 10cm tall. So long as they are given a very good weed-excluding mulch they establish very well. Larger trees will check badly and hardly put on any growth for several years. This also badly affects root development and wind resistance. Cuttings. This method only works when taken from very young trees less than 10 years old. Use single leaf fascicles with the base of the short shoot. Disbudding the shoots some weeks before taking the cuttings can help. Cuttings are normally slow to grow away.

Dry mountain slopes, especially those facing north, to 2600 metres.