Eastern White Pine
Pinus strobus · Evergreen Coniferous Softwood
Plant Family
Pinaceae
Tree Category
Forest Tree, Shade Tree, Ornamental Conifer
Variety / Cultivar
None specified (Wild type)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 3 through 8; adapted to cool, humid climates and sensitive to high heat/humidity in the deep south.
About This Tree
A magnificent, large-stature conifer with a pyramidal shape in youth, becoming an irregular, flat-topped crown with age. It is known for its graceful, plume-like appearance and tiered horizontal branching.
Leaf Characteristics
Needles are in bundles (fascicles) of five, very flexible and soft to the touch, 2 to 5 inches long, bluish-green to silver-green with fine white stomatal lines.
Bark Characteristics
Young bark is smooth and thin with a grayish-green hue. Mature bark becomes thick, deeply furrowed into rectangular ridges, and dark grayish-brown to blackish.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Eastern North America, from Newfoundland west to Manitoba and south along the Appalachian Mountains to Georgia.
Growing Season
Evergreen; new growth (candles) emerges in late spring. Cones develop over a two-year cycle and release seeds in late summer/autumn of the second year.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Prefers full sun but is more shade-tolerant than other pines. Thrives in moist, well-drained, fertile soils; low drought tolerance during establishment.
Mature Size
Reaches 50 to 80 feet in landscape settings but can exceed 150 feet in the wild. Spread is 20 to 40 feet. Growth rate is fast, often 2 feet per year.
Special Characteristics
Historically used for ship masts (King's Broad Arrow trees). It has high timber value, notable winter interest, and is sensitive to road salt and air pollution (ozone).
Wildlife & Ecology
Provides critical nesting sites for large birds like Bald Eagles and Osprey. Seeds are a vital food source for crossbills, squirrels, and small mammals. Provides excellent winter cover.