I love wood carving, and my favorite wood to use is white pine. I saw two Eastern white pines last week on Hurt Road in Smyrna, and two in Lithia Springs, near where I live. They were all used as landscape specimens, and the trees’ thin, soft needles made them particularly appealing. Their oval crowns produced a smooth outline. The Eastern white pine, Pinus strobus, is not only useful but is an attractive and interesting tree. It is the state tree of Maine and Michigan, and the Provincial Tree of Ontario, Canada.
Characteristics of the Eastern white pine make it an easy tree to identify. Looking up the trunk, branches will be seen to grow in wagon wheel-shaped whorls separated by blank spaces. Each year adds a whorl, so the approximate age of the tree can be figured by counting the number of branch whorls. Generally, the tree grows over 3 feet per year. Needles appear in fascicle bundles of 5, which is an unusual number for pines in the southeastern United States. The fascicle sheath holding the needles is very small. The evergreen needles are slender, soft, and 2 to 3 1/2 inches in length. They persist for 18 months, 
from spring of one season to autumn of the next. Bark on a mature tree is dark gray and deeply furrowed, appearing much like a hardwood. However, above the bole and on large branches the bark appears more smooth. Seed cones are found on upper branches. They are often curved, and they can grow 3 1/4 to 6 1/4 inches long and 1 1/2 inches wide. In the lower picture the cones are dry and more open. Cone scales lack prickles. When male and female cones are produced in spring, male cones are yellow and appear much like miniature grape clusters with a tassel at the end. The clusters measure up to 1 inch long. These are all interesting features.
The Eastern white pine is a mountain species 
native to North America, and its natural range is from Canada to far North Georgia. It is less successful living outside its natural range, which confirms the adage that the more needles a tree has in its fascicle bundles, the more it struggles outside of its natural range. Trees generally are found from 80 to 120 feet tall with a spread half as wide, and trunks can be 3 to 5 feet wide. However, the Eastern White Pine has the distinction of being the tallest tree east of the Rocky Mountains. In an old growth forest in the southern Appalachian Mountains, the “Boogerman Pine” was measured by tape to be 188 feet, before Hurricane Opal broke its top in 1995. It had been determined to be 207 feet tall previously, by ground measurements. Mature trees are often found that are 200–250 years old, and some trees in New York and Wisconsin have been dated to approximately 500 years old. The Eastern white pine prefers full sun and soil that is moist, fertile, acidic and well-drained over soils 
that are dry and clay and low in organic matter.
On a historical note, during colonial times, tall Eastern white pines were valued for use as masts on square rigger sailing 
ships. The British crown claimed all trees with a diameter of 24 inches or greater, and marked these pines for ownership by a downward pointing mark called the “broad arrow”. These “mast pines” were cut, and shipped to England. This was not popular with colonists, because many of these trees were on town-owned or privately-owned lands, and colonists were forced to accept less than value for their trees. When the crown extended its claim to all trees with a diameter of 12 inches or greater, there was a resulting riot. The Pine Tree Riot of 1772 was one of the first acts of rebellion by American colonists leading to the American Revolution in 1775. A flag bearing a white pine is said to have flown at the 
Battle of Bunker Hill. Also of interest, the town of Kingstree, South Carolina, was named for a lone white pine having the king’s mark that was found there.
There are many popular uses for the Eastern white pine. Lower branches on the Eastern white pine are usually retained, so the soft foliage of the tree can make an attractive hedge or screen. The tree is attractive for specimen use, planted alone or in groups. Some trim it for use as a Christmas tree. Softwood timber from the tree has popular use, especially in the northern part of the country where it grows. As a soft wood, it is a favorite of many wood carvers, including myself. This is a versatile tree.
Understanding the background and uses of the Eastern white pine makes the experience of seeing one more interesting. Being able to identify one makes the experience possible. Knowing this tree is worth the effort.
White pine needles have a fresh and pleasing piney fragrance. This fragrance has been captured in essential oils derived from the needles, and the item below is such a product. If interested, this item is available for purchase here through my participation in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Any purchase through this link helps maintain this website and is appreciated.
