Evergreen tree with deciduous needle clusters
Mature height of 50-80 feet, mature width of 20-40 feet
Small, cylindrical green and yellow flowers growing in clusters among the thin, soft needles which fall off and regrow approximately every two years.
Ttolerant of a wide range of soil conditions but does best in moist, sandy loam soil with full sun and a cool humid climate.
Supports a large variety of native fauna including mammals which eat its seeds and bark, and the Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) which uses it for larval hosting.
Susceptible a large number of diseases and insect problems, as well as wind damage.
Hardiness zones 3-8
Sentimental and Symbolic Value
The white pine, for most of the Northeast, was historically a symbol of peace. The Iroquois in particular had a deep connection to the tree, as it was the symbol of the alliance between the Five Nations.
The white pine is a common tree used as Christmas trees in the US and other areas where it is native, with its needles representing the Trinity and being "pointed towards heaven". The Christmas tree is, according to Pope John Paul II, a symbol "exalt[ing] the value of life", reminding Christians of "the tree of life, an image of Christ, the supreme gift of God to humanity".
As the tree dominates New England's conifer forests both today and in the colonial era, it creates a sense of longing for the wilderness. Due to the fact that today's pine forests are dwarfed in both height and breath in comparison to the ones that once were, the tree invokes a sense of nostalgia for a time long gone. It has captured the imagination of American landscape artists for generations (see New England Landscape, Frederic Edwin Church, 1850; White Pine, AJ Casson, 1957).
Specimen photographed found at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. Part of the Urban Trees assignment (9/29/2021).
Plant History and Etymology
The specific epithet comes from the Greek word strobos (whirling). The Eastern white pine has historically been a major timber tree in New England, where it was valued for its lightweight, strong, warp-resistant wood. Old-growth pine was particularly highly sought after as it became increasingly rare, to be used for ship masts, flooring and furniture. Pine needles are sometimes used in herbal teas as a source of vitamin C, and they are also a common species of live Christmas tree due to their needle retention.
Design Considerations
The Eastern white pine is tall and upright, with dense needled branches just above head height or a little lower. It needs a large clearance to plant, ideally at least a 24 foot radius. The form is pyramidal and the branches curve upwards, giving it an attractive and interesting shape. The flowers and fruits are not showy, but thanks to it being an evergreen and having an attractive, smooth red-brown bark it has year-round interest. The tree is very important for local fauna for food and shelter. Some potential considerations for humans are that the tree is highly flammable, so it should not be planted in fire prone areas or areas where a fire would bel ikely to spread. Also, allergies to evergreen sap like the kind that comes from the pine's trunk and needle tips are fairly common.
Sources
“Pinus Strobus L.” 2021. Usda.gov. 2021. https://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/misc/ag_654/volume_1/pinus/strobus.htm.
“Pinus Strobus (Eastern White Pine, White Pine) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox.” 2021. Ncsu.edu. 2021. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/pinus-strobus/.
H.W. Schroeder. 2019. “The Tree of Peace: Symbolic and Spiritual Values of the White Pine.” Fs.fed.us. 2019. https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/3474#:~:text=Trees%20have%20been%20important%20spiritual,nations%20into%20an%20enduring%20League..
Wikipedia Contributors. 2021. “Pinus Strobus.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. May 14, 2021. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinus_strobus#.
Wessels, Tom. Reading the Forested Landscape: A Natural History of New England. “Chapter 3: A Study in Stumps”
Wikipedia Contributors. 2021. “Christmas Tree.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. November 28, 2021. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_tree#Origin_of_the_modern_Christmas_tree.