In colonial times, these tall trees were used to make masts for the British Royal Navy ships.
Found in most of Ontario, the eastern white pine can grow to be more than 40 metres tall. It grows quickly and best with full sunlight. Young trees can tolerate some shade.
It has skinny needles that are 6 to 12 centimetres long. It’s easy to recognize the eastern white pine because its needles grow in bunches of five.
The eastern white pine’s cones are 8 to 20 cm long and they hang down from the branches. Good seed crops aren’t produced until trees are 20 or 30 years old, and then only every 3 to 5 years. Its bark is dark greyish brown with broad thick ridges that are 2 to five centimetres thick.
If it grows somewhere that it’s exposed to a lot of wind, the eastern white pine can become a bit lopsided, with small, short branches on the side that faces the wind.
Size: 20 to 35 metres tall, trunk 60 to 140 centimetres in diameter
Moisture: Tolerates different moisture levels
Shade: Tolerates partial shade when younger
Soil: Grows in any soil type; prefers sand or sandy loam
Where you can plant this tree in Ontario:
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Planting tip: Show your provincial pride and plant an eastern white pine – it’s the provincial tree of Ontario! If you plant it in direct sun, it will grow quickly and is ideal for blocking an unsightly view or for creating shade for your house. More tips...
