Pines are evergreen trees with spreading branches that are often arranged in whorls. The bark is either furrowed or scaly. Buds are conspicuous with numerous imbricated scales. The primary leaves of seedlings are spirally arranged. The secondary leaves of landscape-sized plants are borne in bundles containing two to five needles. The number of needles per bundle, or sheath, is a useful identification feature. Flowers are monoecious. Fruit is a cone with many woody scales.
Pinus strobus–Eastern White Pine
A. Leaves (needles) are usually three in a bundle, occasionally two. |. Leaves are usually in bundles of three but may have bundles of two and three on the same plant. Needles are 5—10 1/2 inches (13—27 cm) long. Twigs are fragrant when broken. Mature bark has a vanilla-like fragrance. Cones are about 4 inches (10 cm) long and nearly as wide. Pinus ponderosa–Ponderosa (Western Yellow) Pine ||. Leaves are always borne with three in a bundle and are 2 3/4—5 1/2 inches (7—14 cm) long. Needles are also borne in tufts on the main stem of the tree. Twigs are not fragrant when broken. Branches are horizontally arranged and form an irregular head. Cones are 3—4 inches (7 1/2—10 cm) long and just as wide. Cones often persist for a number of years. Pinus rigida–Pitch Pine AA. Leaves (needles) are always in bundles of two. |. Twigs are distinctly glaucous or bloomy. a. Leaves are dark green and 1 1/2—23/4 inches (3 1/2 —7 cm) long. Buds are resinous. Bark of young twigs is reddish-brown, becoming shallowly fissured into scaly plates on older branches and trunks. A bushy tree with slender, horizontal branches, the pitch pine has somewhat pendulous older branches. This tree has a picturesque habit. Cones are less than 2 inches (5 cm) long and remain on the tree for years. Pinus virginiana–Virginia (Scrub) Pine aa. The dark bluish-green leaves are slender and 2 3/4—4 3/4 inches (7—12 cm) long. Bark of twigs is dark reddish-brown. Mature bark on branches and trunk breaks into large, scaly plates. Buds are not, or only slightly, resinous. Cones are 2—3 inches (5—7 1/2 cm) long and nearly as wide as they are long. Pinus echinata–Shortleaf Pine ||. Twigs are not glaucous or bloomy. a. Leaves are 5—7 inches (13—18 cm) long. i. Leaves are dull, dark green, and 5—7 inches (13—17 cm) long. Needles are stiff and rigid but do not break when bent. Resin ducts are internal. The trunk and larger branches are gray and broken into large plates. Cones are 3—4 inches (7 1/2—10 cm) long and nearly as wide. Pinus nigra–Austrian Pine ii. Leaves are 4—6 inches (10—15 cm) long and more slender and flexible than the Austrian pine but break when bent. Foliage is darker green than the Austrian pine and is often glossy. Resin ducts are marginal. The bark of trunks and larger branches is red-brown, giving the tree its name. Cones are 2—3 inches (5—7 1/2 cm) long and nearly as wide as they are long. Pinus resinosa–Red Pine aa. Leaves are short, 1—3 inches (2 1/2—7 1/2 cm) long. i. Leaves are bluish-green, flat, and twisted. Needles are 1 1/4—2 3/4 inches (3—7 cm) long. The tree grows to 75 feet or more, becoming irregular with age. Upper trunk and branches are salmon- or orange-colored. Cones are 1 1/2—2 inches (4—5 cm) long and just as wide. Cones are persistent. Pinus sylvestris–Scotch Pine ii. Leaves are dark to bright green, and 3/4—1 1/2 inches (2—4 cm) long. This tree may grow to 85 feet, but it is usually not more than 25—30 feet high. Young trees are sometimes shrubby. Cones are 1 1/2—2 inches (4—5 cm) long and just as wide. Cones remain on the tree for 12—15 years. Pinus banksiana (divaricata)–Jack Pine
Jack Pine–Pinus banksiana (divaricata)
This tree is native to the northern lake states and grows on the sterile, dry sands and poor soils of that area. Jack pine is usually planted in Ohio as a windbreak or for reforestation, rather than ornamental, purposes. The growth habit of jack pine closely resembles the Virginia pine to which it is related. Jack pine serves a similar ecological function as a pioneer invader species in the north as the Virginia pine does in southeastern Ohio.
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| Jack Pine | ||
Needles are borne two to a cluster. The foliage is 3/4—1 1/2 inches (2—4 cm) long and often twisted and stiff. Foliage is an attractive, dark green color. Cones are 1 1/2—2 inches (4—5 cm) long and just as wide. Cones remain on the tree for 12—15 years. Cones open and spread millions of winged seeds following a fire which often kills the parent trees. Without fire, this tree is replaced by more shade-tolerant oaks and other hardwoods.
This tree may grow to heights of 85 feet but is usually no more than 30—50 feet tall. Young trees are sometimes shrubby. The trees grow rapidly while young and retain foliage to the ground for many years. Retained lower branches often result in poor form and a straggly appearance. Older trees grow much more slowly than do younger trees.
Shortleaf Pine–Pinus echinata
The shortleaf pine, also known as yellow pine, hard pine, or old-field pine, is one of the more well-known commercial yellow pines of the South. Ohio is the northern limit of this plant's distribution. Slash and loblolly pines dominate the southern yellow pines in the South, but are less cold-hardy in Ohio. Similar to the other native hard pines (pitch and scrub), shortleaf pine is confined to southeastern Ohio. It occurs in Scioto, Adams, Lawrence, Jackson, Gallia, Vinton, Athens, Washington, Fairfield, Hocking, and Ross counties. Commercial stands are confined to Scioto, Jackson, Gallia, and Washington counties. In these counties, it is highly recommended as a tree for reforestation purposes.
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| Shortleaf Pine | ||
Leaves are borne with two and sometimes three needles in a bundle. Needles are dark bluish-green and are 2 3/4—4 3/4 inches (7—12 cm) long. Foliage persists for to 2—5 years. The twigs are pale to purplish-brown and circular in cross section. Mature bark is brownish-red and broken into rectangular plates. It is thinner and lighter in color than the loblolly pine. Buds are not, or only slightly, resinous.
In the open, the young tree has a straight and somewhat stout stem with slightly ascending branches. Upon reaching maturity, the tree has a tall, straight stem and an oval crown that reaches heights of about 100 feet with a trunk diameter of about 3 feet. The young tree, when cut or burned back, reproduces itself by sprouting from the stump.
Male and female strobile (flowers) open in May and are both borne on the same plant. The cones are the smallest of all the Ohio yellow pines and are only 1 1/2—2 1/2 inches (4—6 cm) long. Cones are nearly as wide as they are long. Cones are oblong with small, sharp prickles and are generally clustered. Fruit is persistent, often holding to the twigs for 3—4 years. The small seeds are mottled and have a wing which is broadest near the center.
The wood of old trees is rather heavy, fine-grained, and hard. The lumber is often sold as hard or yellow pine. The color is yellowish-brown or orange and less resinous than that of the other important southern pines. It is used largely for interior and exterior finishing, general construction, veneers, paper pulp, excelsior, cooperage, and mine props in addition to other purposes.
Austrian Pine–Pinus nigra
Austrian pine is a native tree of Europe but is commonly planted and found growing in all sections of Ohio as a windbreak and ornamental tree. Austrian pine is well adapted to the limestone soils and heavy clays of Ohio. This is an excellent tree for windbreak planting and as specimens in large lawns, parks, and rural estates. The tree is rugged with heavy, persistent branches forming a dense crown and top growth.
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| Austrian Pine |
Needles are borne two to a needle sheath and are flexible but do not break when bent. Foliage is 5—7 inches (13—18 cm) long and dark green. Needles are stout, rigid, slightly curved, and sharp-pointed. Foliage persists for two or more years, giving the tree a dense crown. Resin ducts are internal. One variety, the ‘Corsican' (Pinus nigra calabrica), is a taller tree with a narrow, compact crown that has been used in forest plantings. Needles are distinctly curved and often borne in curly clusters on branches of young trees.
Twigs are not glaucous or bloomy. Mature bark is divided into large plates with dark fissures. Bark plates are light grayish-brown to almost white. Flowers are monoecious and not true flowers but open in May or early June. Cones are 4 inches (10 cm) long and oval in outline. The cones mature and are shed following the second growing season.
Pine tip blight has become a serious problem in windbreaks, forests, and shaded plantings. The first symptom is blighted branch tips, but the disease may proceed to dead branches and cause death of the host plant. Good air exchange reduces the severity of this disease. Considerable seedling variation in disease sensitivity is also seen in Austrian pine. Pesticides are labeled but marginally effective.
Ponderosa (Western Yellow) Pine–Pinus ponderosa
Ponderosa pine is a large forest tree, reaching 100—200 feet in height in its native regions. This tree was introduced into Ohio from the western Rocky Mountain and Pacific Coast regions for both ornamental and reforestation purposes. The trunk of the tree grows straight and tall with stout, spreading branches forming a close, crowned top. When growing in open areas, the ponderosa pine develops a beautiful, massive top. Ponderosa pine is an attractive ornamental tree in spacious lawns or deep backgrounds where screen and windbreaks can be used.
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| Ponderosa (Western Yellow) | ||
Bark is reddish-brown, rough, scaly, and fissured on old trees. A slight odor of vanilla is detected in the bark fissures. Branches are orange to yellow in color and fragrant when broken. Flowers are monoecious and bloom in May. Cones are about 4 inches (10 cm) long and nearly as wide. The end of the cone scales terminate in a stout prickle.
Needles are usually borne in threes, but occasionally needles are borne two in a sheath. Needles are 5—10 1/2 inches (13—27 cm) long, stiff, and dark green in color.
The Pacific Coast seed source in Secrest Arboretum, on the campus of the Ohio State University's Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, has suffered from drought and winter injury. The Rocky Mountain and Black Hills seed source variety, scopulorum, has shorter needles and dark, upright branches. The Rocky Mountain seed source produces a smaller tree but withstands the cold and soil conditions in Ohio much better. When the European settlers pushed West, they found huge areas dominated by large, widely spaced ponderosa pines growing in grasses. These areas were logged earlier in this century. Natural regeneration was allowed to replace the trees and resulted in a change in species. The original fire-dependent ecosystem of ponderosa pine is now greatly reduced and the ponderosa pine is much less common today than it was when the European settlers arrived.
Red Pine–Pinus resinosa
The red pine is a large forest tree of the northern pine areas and is associated with the white pine. The native range of the red pine extends south into Michigan. While this tree is not native to Ohio, it has been extensively planted for reforestation and timber growing purposes during the past 50 years. Red pine is well adapted to the thin, sterile soils and old field-types of eastern and southeastern Ohio. Pine tip blight is as severe for red pine as it is for Austrian pine.
Red pine is difficult to tell from Austrian pine in the field. The needles of the red pine break when bent, while Austrian pine needles fold over when bent. Leaves (needles) are always borne two in a bundle. Leaves are 5—7 inches (13 to 18 cm) long. Foliage is darker green than the Austrian pine and is often glossy. Resin ducts are marginal. Foliage density of Austrian pine is greater than that of red pine.
Twigs are not glaucous or bloomy. Bark of trunks and larger branches is reddish-brown, giving the tree its name. Mature bark is quite different than Austrian pine but is not seen until the tree is 30 or more years old. Fissured plates are reddish-brown in color. The Austrian pine has a more regular outline.
Flowers are monoecious and open in May. Cones of Austrian and red pines are similar in shape. At 2—3 inches (5—7 1/2 cm) in length, the cones of the red pine are smaller than that of the Austrian pine.
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| Pitch Pine |
This tree quickly invades cutover sites, especially in sterile, sandy soils. Mature trees may reach 75—125 feet in height. Trunks are straight and carry a broad, pyramidal crown or top. The red pine is less attractive as an ornamental tree than is the Austrian pine.
Pitch Pine–Pinus rigida
The pitch pine grows on dry ridges and slopes of the hilly regions of southeastern Ohio. It occurs scattered or in small groups with hardwoods or other pines in practically every county from Fairfield south to the Ohio River. It is also reported to occur sparingly in Columbiana, Jefferson, Belmont, Guernsey, and Licking counties.
As a native pine, it has excellent possibilities for reforestation purposes on the worn-out sandstone and shale soils of southeastern Ohio. It commonly attains heights of 50—75 feet and a diameter of 1—2 feet. The trunk is erect and at heights of 20—30 feet branches into a close head made up of large branches and noticeably thick foliage. Pitch pine has longer leaves, larger cones, and generally a rougher and less straight trunk than the shortleaf pine with which is it often found. Branches are horizontally arranged and form an irregular head.
The leaves, which are found in clusters of three, are 2 3/4—5 1/2 inches (7—14 cm) long. Needles are stiff, dark yellowish-green in color, and stand out straight from the twigs. They fall during the second year. Small branch stubs are borne on the main stems with clusters of foliage.
Twigs are not fragrant when broken. The cones are 3—4 inches (7 1/2—10 cm) long and light brown in color. Cones are persistent and usually cling to the branches for several years, sometimes for as many as 10—12 years. Intermediate bark on the stems and branches is rough. Mature bark is gray or reddish-brown and irregularly divided into broad, flat, continuous ridges.
The wood is light, soft, and brittle. It is sawed into lumber for general construction. This tree is able to grow in very poor soil and has the capacity, when young, of sprouting successfully from the base of the stump when burned or cut back. This is an uncommon trait among conifers.
Eastern White Pine–Pinus strobus
The white pine occurs naturally in the lake-states region eastward to the Northern Atlantic states, and southward throughout the Appalachian Mountain section of Eastern North America. In Ohio, it is confined to a portion of the northeastern section of the state.
When found, it is present only in small areas, occurring most abundantly near the headwaters of the Mohican River in southern Ashland County. It has been found in Ashtabula, Lake, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Trumbull, Summit, Lorain, Erie, Ashland, Holmes, Coshocton, Knox, Belmont, and Jefferson counties. It grows on high, dry, sandy, and rocky ridges but prefers cooler, moister situations.
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| Eastern White Pine |
The trunk is straight with branches that extend horizontally in whorls (a number of branches are attached at a single level around the stem). The whorls mark the successive years of upward growth. Older trees lose the excurrent terminal growth and assume a more open and picturesque habit. The tree commonly attains heights of 75—100 feet and diameters of 2—3 feet, though much larger specimens can be found.
The leaves are 2 1/2—5 1/2 inches (6—14 cm) long, bluish-green on the upper surface, and white beneath. Needles occur in bundles of five, which distinguishes it from all other eastern pines. Leaves are slender, minutely toothed, and soft to the touch.
Twigs are usually glabrous but may be hairy on young growth. Bark is purple on young twigs. The intermediate bark is thin and greenish-gray on young trees, while the mature bark is thick, deeply furrowed, and grayish-brown.
Flowers are monoecious and open in May. Cones are curved and more than twice as long as they are wide. The cone is 4—6 inches (10—15 cm) long and cylindrical with thin, usually very gummy, scales containing small, winged seeds which require two years to mature. The cones are not armed with prickles.
Its rapid growth, tolerance of Ohio growing conditions, and the high quality of the wood make it one of the most desirable trees for forest planting. The wood is light and soft but not strong. The color is light brown, often tinged with red, and easily worked. It is in demand for construction purposes, box boards, and other products.
The white pine's straight stem, regular pyramidal shape, and soft, grayish-green foliage make it universally appreciated as an ornamental tree. The soft needles and flexible branch tips make it less popular as a Christmas tree than the Scotch pine. Its tolerance of growing conditions in Ohio makes it the most widely planted pine for landscape applications. White pine is more tolerant of serious insect and diseases than other pines in Ohio, but it is very sensitive to road-salt damage and should be planted away from heavily salted roadways.
Scotch Pine–Pinus sylvestris
Scotch pine, or Scot's pine, is a native tree of Europe but is extensively planted in Ohio for ornamental, windbreak, and Christmas tree purposes. Several seed sources have been introduced from Europe. Selections have been made based on color retention during the winter months in order to increase this plant's marketability as a Christmas tree. This is the most popular Christmas tree in Ohio but does not retain the pyramidal growth pattern without an annual pruning. Scotch pine has escaped cultivation in several areas of Ohio and easily becomes naturalized. This tree was commonly planted around homesteads by early settlers and is often found as large trees near buildings with Austrian pine and Norway spruce as associates. Trees grow to 75 feet or more, becoming irregularly shaped with age.
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| Scotch Pine | ||||
Leaves are always in bundles of two. Foliage is bluish-green, flat, and twisted. Needles are 1 1/4—2 3/4 inches (3—7 cm) long. Flowers are monoecious and bloom in May. Cones are 1 1/2—2 inches (4—5 cm) long and just as wide. Cones are persistent.
Bark is reddish-brown, thin, and scaly in younger trees. Intermediate bark is exfoliating (scaly) and ranges in color from a reddish-brown to a showy copper. Mature bark is deeply furrowed and a dark grayish-brown color. Trunks are usually irregular and crooked.
Scotch pines grow vigorously as a reforestation tree on poor soil sites when young, but growth decreases rapidly in later years. The shrubby habit of the Christmas tree seed sources make this tree undesirable as a timber tree in Ohio, although this is a major timber species in Europe. Pine tip blight is a slightly less severe problem for Scotch pine than for Austrian and red pines, but it can still be fatal. Other foliar diseases cause more serious problems for Scotch than for the Austrian and white pines which are found more commonly in Ohio landscapes.
Virginia (Scrub) Pine–Pinus virginiana
The Virginia, scrub, or Jersey pine is the most common and widely distributed of any of the native pines in southeastern Ohio. It is confined to the sandstone soils of the state extending from Columbiana County southward to Lawrence, Scioto, and Adams counties. In sections of Washington, Athens, Jackson, Lawrence, and Scioto counties it occupies extensive areas of old fields and washed, gullied lands. Usually it is found growing in pure stands and is very persistent in establishing itself on worn-out, abandoned, and sterile soils.
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| Virginia (Scrub) Pine | ||
Scrub pine is a bushy tree with slender, horizontal, and somewhat pendulous branches. It is one of the slower growing pines. The side branches usually persist for many years even after dying, thus giving a scrubby appearance to the tree which is responsible for one of its common names. This tree has a picturesque habit.
The twisted and spreading leaves are borne two in a cluster. Needles vary from 1 1/2—2 3/4 inches (4—7 cm) long and are deep green in color. Virginia pine needles are shorter than those of any other pine native to the state.