Eastern White Pine

Pinus strobus

Growzone: 3 - 9

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Plant Options

Bare Root Prices
Height25-99100+
10" - 18"Available Spring 2027 - Email to Join the WaitlistAvailable Spring 2027 - Email to Join the Waitlist
18" - 24"Available Spring 2027 - Email to Join the WaitlistAvailable Spring 2027 - Email to Join the Waitlist
Potted Prices
Height1-5050+
18" - 24"$22.00$21.00
2' - 3'$31.50$29.50
3' - 4'$42.00$42.00
4' - 5'Low Stock - Email for Availability (52.00)Low Stock - Email for Availability (52.00)
6' - 7'95.00 (10 gallon container)95.00 (10 gallon container)

Description

Description


The White Pine is a fast-growing (2-3 ft per year or more) evergreen that has needles between 3-6 inches long and are arranged in bundles of five on the stem. Between September and October this pine “sheds “ all of its needles that grew out the previous year. These needles make excellent mulch but are also very flammable, so fire and sparks must be kept away from the base of these trees. When grown in the open its branches extend to the ground, when grown in windbreaks it usually loses its lower branches, which is common in the pine family. It is a native of the northern third of the United States extending as far south as the mountains in Georgia.

It will grow up to 80+ ft tall and 25 ft or more wide, its large spreading root system is very wind firm, but its branches are slightly brittle and can be damaged by snow, ice, and windstorms. It can live over 100 years in windbreaks but usually has a shorter lifespan because of being broken up by wind and ice storms. On well-drained, moist soil this species will outgrow any other evergreen that can be planted there, and a 20-year-old tree can be 40 ft tall. Deer will readily eat this species and due to all the new growth coming out of the very tip of a branch, deer can severely deform or kill this plant.

It will grow well in hardiness zones from 3-7 and will grow quite fast in most soils. It prefers well-drained soil and does not like to have its roots too wet. On clay soils, they seem to do quite well but when a wet year comes along we have seen some deaths of 20-30ft trees due to the clay soil holding too much moisture causing root death. They can grown in pH soils of up to 9 but are thin and show signs of chlorosis, soils of 7.5 pH and below are preferred.

The White pine can grow well in sandy conditions whereas the spruce would not do as well. It is quite adaptable to dryer sites if not planted too closely together (16ft). It does have several disease and insect problems such as the blister rust, white pine weevil, and Zimmerman Pine moth in Iowa. Before planting it is best to check other White pine in the area and see if they have any disease or insect problems, and check with your county extension agent on the local situation.

We recommend spacing in a single row 16 feet apart, a double row 20 feet between rows and plants, or multiple rows 22 or more feet between rows and plants. A 2 ft tall potted White Pine tree can be over 12 ft tall in 5 years provided it is planted in good soil with adequate moisture and weed and grass control around the base.

The White pine tree is a recommended windbreak tree due to its fast growth, but consider all the conditions above when selecting this tree. In multiple-row windbreaks, I would use other species along with this one and would consider deer activity in the area as they can severely inhibit growth.

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