Eastern White Pine

Oct 17

Written By Wheeler Wildlife Refuge Association

Eastern White Pine Pinus strobus

After the “New World” was discovered by those representing the “Old World”, our tallest evergreen tree, capable of reaching heights of 220’, quickly became an enormously popular wood for ship masts and general construction purposes. The largest living tree currently known is growing in the southern Adirondacks. It stands 151’ tall and is a bit over 5’ in diameter at breast height (aka DBH). One logged in 1899 measured 12’ in diameter! Due to its fast growth rate and the ease that its soft wood could be quickly fashioned into a coffin, American settlers called this the “coffin pine” and planted it in pairs on their homesteads for their final need on this earthly plane. How’s that for looking ahead?

Its bluish-green, soft and flexible needles (unlike most other pines), grow in bundles of 5 (needles per bundle is a characteristic of pines). Each bundle is functional for only 2 years, then abruptly dies and turns yellow in September/October, just before dropping to the ground to serve as mulch. In our area in southeastern PA, some recent windy weather has been effective at escorting most of the old bundles out of the trees and scattering them widely about. Wind passing through a White Pine plays a distinctive and soothing, soft song; widely tolerant of varied growing conditions; provides protective cover for many creatures year-round; of high value to song and game birds.

Note: The Eastern White Pine doesn’t necessarily grow well in Alabama, but it’s a staple of the forests of our friends in PA!