Carolina Nature

Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of North Carolina

Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus)

Plantae>Coniferophyta>Pinopsida>Pinales>Pinaceae>Pinus strobus L.

Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus)

Eastern White Pine is a large pine with 5 leaves in a fascicle. The pliable leaves are bluish-green and have a white stripe running down their length.

Carroll Co., VA 4/25/08.

Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus)

Carroll Co., VA 4/25/08.

Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus)

Carroll Co., VA 5/11/09.

Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus)

This pine is common in the Mountains and adjacent Piedmont of North Carolina and frequently planted elsewhere.

Carroll Co., VA 5/11/09.

Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus)

The cones are elongate and lack prickles.

Carroll Co., VA 4/25/08.

Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus)

There is also a relict native population at the White Pines Natural Area in Chatham and Lee Counties at the confluence of the Deep and Rocky Rivers — hanging on because of the cool microclimate.

Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus)

Eastern White Pine is also weakly escaping from cultivation in a few areas, such as Hill Forest in northern Durham County. The photo at left is of a young escapee in Hill Forest.

Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus)

Unlike the bark of our other pines, the dark gray-brown bark of E. White Pine is smooth on small and medium-sized trees.

White Pines Preserve, Chatham Co., NC 6/18/05.

Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus)

The bark of larger trees is dark brown and broken into regular plates. Remnants of old branches are retained for many years.

White Pines Preserve, Chatham Co., NC 6/18/05.

Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus) bark

Carroll Co., VA 4/25/08.

More information:
Gymnosperm Database
Trees of Alabama and the Southeast
US Forest Service Silvics Manual
Virginia Tech Dendrology

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