Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana)

Needles and male cones Photo by: Daniel Tigner, Canadian Forest Tree Essences	Bark Photo by: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
Cone Photo by: Daniel Tigner, Canadian Forest Tree Essences	Tree Photo by: Daniel Tigner, Canadian Forest Tree Essences

The jack pine is found across Ontario and is the most common of any pine trees in the north.  It’s a smaller tree that can grow almost anywhere – in sandy or shallow soil, and even on permafrost and rock.

Cones from the jack pine can vary in shape and size but are usually skinny and curved and are 2.5 to 8 centimetres long.  They are yellowish, brown and stay tightly closed unless they experience high temperatures. Its light green needles grow in bundles of two, are slightly curved or twisted and are 2 to 4 centimetres long

The jack pine is the most widely distributed tree in Canada.  When it grows in rocky shallow soil, it’s gnarled and lopsided – a view made famous by Canadian painter Tom Thompson. 

Size:  Up to 24 metres tall, trunk is up to 60 centimetres in diameter

Moisture:  Can tolerate a range of moisture levels but prefres dry soil
Shade:  Needs full sun
Soil: Grows in almost any soil, but prefers sandy to coarse loamy soils

Planting tip:  The jack pine can grow almost anywhere in the north as long as it gets a lot of sun, so it’s a great tree to use for landscaping. More tips...