Eastern White Pine is a large, fast-growing evergreen tree native to eastern North America, often reaching heights of 50–80 feet or more. It prefers well-drained soils and is commonly found in forests and open landscapes.

This tree is easily identified by its long, soft needles that grow in bundles of five (needle clusters). The needles are bluish-green and flexible, giving the tree a feathery appearance. Its bark is smooth and gray when young, becoming darker and furrowed with age.

Eastern White Pine produces long, slender cones (seed structures) that hang from its branches. It is an important timber species and provides valuable habitat for wildlife. 

References

Eastern white pine. (n.d.). The Morton Arboretum. https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/eastern-white-pine/

Pinus strobus (Eastern White Pine, White Pine) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. (n.d.). Plants.ces.ncsu.edu. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/pinus-strobus/

Words by Ben Hanson.  Photos by Sarah Cote.  2026