Eastern White Pine

The eastern white pine tree was once among the tallest trees of eastern North American forests. Unfortunately, it is now rare to see one any taller than 100 feet. Young white pines are pyramidal, but they lose their lower branches as they age and take on a wind-beaten look. The tree is attractive at both stages. Its persistent needles, soft for a pine, are grouped by fives and are bluish-green in color. The pine cones are large and decorative.

Eastern white pine was in North American forests, but is a landscape tree, known for pine needles and cones.
The eastern white pine, a specimen tree,
was once one of the tallest in North America.

How to grow: This pine is easily transplanted. It grows best in fertile, moist, well-drained soils, and, though it prefers full sun, it can tolerate some shade. It can be pruned into an attractive evergreen hedge.

Uses: The eastern white pine is an exceedingly handsome landscape tree; some rate it as the best ornamental conifer. Given lots of room, it makes an unforgettable impression as a landscape plant. The eastern white pine is not a good city tree because of its susceptibility to pollution and salt damage. It is prone to damage in winter from ice storms.

Related species: The Japanese white pine (Pinus parviflora) is a slow-growing, smaller pine.

Scientific name: Pinus strobus

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