Eastern White Pine / Pinus strobus is of the white pine group. This group of pines have 5 needles per bundle compared to the yellow pines which have either 2 or 3 needles per bundle.
The tree will grow for 200 years if left undisturbed. There are reports of a maximum age of 450 years. The tree does better than others in marginal forest soil types.
The needles of white pine look finer than yellow pine trees. I can tell a white pine by the look of softness of the needles from a distance.
The trees put on a whirl of branches each year. You can estimate how old a tree is by counting the number of whorls up the bowl of the tree.
One of the few cones not decayed by February 13th.
Eastern White Pine has 5 needles per bundle. White pine do not grow naturaly in western Missouri. So I go to parks to look for planted trees.
There are 2 main pests of white pines. Blister Rust and White Pine Weevil. Keeping the tree away from damp areas or pruning the lower branches up to 9' off the ground will go a long way in protecting them from pests. Allowing the tree to grow up under other trees until they are at least 20' tall will protect them as well.
Psalm 147:2,3 "The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
He gathers the outcasts of Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds."
I have seen this tree planted in Minnesota. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources encourages homeowners to plant this tree. I do like the soft look of the needles. The five needles, per bundle add to the soft affect.
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