# Pine (*Pinus*)

Pine trees are tall evergreens with needle-like leaves. They produce cones that hold their seeds. Pine trees stay green all year round, even in winter!

- **Category:** [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/tree)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 2/5 · Low
- **Habitat:** Forests
- **Also known as:** Pine Tree, Yellow Pine

![Pine](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424693/objects/6311.jpg)

## Appearance

The Pine has long, slender, needle-like leaves, typically in bundles of two to five, often a rich green or blue-green color. Its bark is usually thick, scaly, and reddish-brown, distinct from the smooth bark of many deciduous trees. It produces woody cones of various sizes.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida

## Interesting facts

- Pine oil, made from needles and wood, is used in cleaning products.
- Pine trees are among the world's oldest living organisms!
- Some pine cones need wildfire heat to open and release their seeds!
- The tallest pine tree ever recorded was over 80 meters tall!

## Special abilities

- **Sticky Shield:** Pine can produce sticky resin to trap insects and seal wounds, protecting itself from harm.
- **Winter Green:** Pine has needle-like leaves with a waxy coating that helps it conserve water in dry or cold weather.
- **Year-Round Food Maker:** Pine can keep its needles for many years, allowing it to make food even during winter.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 15-45 m
- **Spread:** 6-15 m
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Size:** 50-150 cm
- **Lifespan:** 100-500 years
- **Fruit Type:** Cone
- **Growth Rate:** Medium
- **Leaf Type:** Evergreen

## Ecological connections

- **Eats:** [Eastern Gray Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-gray-squirrel) (*Sciurus carolinensis*) — eats pine nuts, stores cones
- **Eats:** [Red Crossbill](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-crossbill) (*Loxia curvirostra*) — specialized beak for cones
- **Symbiotic with:** Slippery Jack mushroom (*Suillus luteus*) — shares nutrients with roots
- **Parasitizes:** Mountain Pine Beetle (*Dendroctonus ponderosae*) — bores into bark, causes damage
- **Shelter:** [Steller's Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/stellers-jay) (*Cyanocitta stelleri*) — nests in branches, eats seeds

## Traits

- [Mycorrhizal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mycorrhizal): This trait describes a symbiotic relationship between a fungus and the roots of a plant, benefiting both organisms.
- [Cold Hardy](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cold-hardy): Cold hardy plants are able to withstand low temperatures and freezing conditions without significant damage.
- [Coniferous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coniferous): Coniferous plants are typically evergreen, bearing needles or scales and reproductive cones.
- [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
- [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)
- [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/trees)

## Safety

**Danger:** 2/5 · Low

Be careful around pine trees with sharp needles and avoid climbing them.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Pine?

Compare leaves or needles, how they attach to the twig, buds, bark and the shape of the crown. Lobed leaves are useful clues, but several unrelated trees share a similar outline. Tree Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Pine?

15-45 m

### How wide does Pine spread?

6-15 m

### Is Pine edible?

Yes

### How big is Pine?

50-150 cm

### How long does Pine live?

100-500 years

### Where is Pine usually found?

Forests

### What kind of fruit does Pine produce?

Cone

## Where to spot

- [Chattanooga Zoo at Warner Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chattanooga-zoo-at-warner-park) — Tennessee, US · Zoo
- [Albuquerque Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/albuquerque-aquarium) — New Mexico, US · Zoo
- [Coker Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/coker-arboretum-north-carolina) — North Carolina, US · Zoo
- [Sarasota Jungle Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sarasota-jungle-gardens) — Florida, US · Zoo
- [Zoo de Castellar](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoo-de-castellar) — Andalusia, ES · Zoo
- [Boston Aquarial and Zoological Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/boston-aquarial-and-zoological-gardens) — Massachusetts, US · Zoo

[View all places to see Pine](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/pine)

## More Trees

- [English Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/english-oak) (*Quercus robur*)
- [Sessile Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sessile-oak) (*Quercus petraea*)
- [Northern Red Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-red-oak) (*Quercus rubra*)
- [White Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-oak) (*Quercus alba*)

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Source: [Pine: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pine)