Plant index
Specimen record
Eastern White Pine
Pinus strobus
Specimen collection
Category
Tree
Status
Native
Family
Pinaceae
Abundance
Common
Description
The tallest tree in eastern North America, eastern white pine is a fast-growing conifer with graceful, soft blue-green needles in bundles of five. It dominates many New England forests and is a key species for wildlife habitat.
Identification tips
- 1Needles in bundles of 5 (mnemonic: W-H-I-T-E = 5 letters)
- 2Long, slender curved cones 10–20 cm, often resin-coated
- 3Soft, flexible needles unlike the stiff needles of red pine
- 4Mature bark deeply furrowed into dark gray-brown ridges
- 5Horizontal branching in whorls creates layered crown
Specimen & preservation notes
Collect needle fascicles with sheath intact. Press cone scales separately; full cones may be dried unwrapped. Young twigs with needles press well if needles are spread flat.
Collection calendar
| Wk | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||||||||
| 2 | ||||||||
| 3 | ||||||||
| 4 |
CollectibleCurrent weekNot collectible
Collection notes
May Wk 2,3,4New growth candles elongating
Jun Wk 1,2Pollen cones active
Sep Wk 1,2,3,4Mature cones dropping
Oct Wk 1,2Needle bundles for pressing
Season check
No flowering records for this species yet.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Guide collection windowObserved flowering
Flowering records: 0 iNaturalist observations, Massachusetts · Nearby: 3931 observations within 25 km