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western white pine

Pinus monticola

The western white pine is a tall tree with long, soft needles. It grows in beautiful forests and provides homes for many animals. Its wood is strong and light, making it useful for building things.

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The western white pine is a tall, slender evergreen conifer with a narrow, pointed crown. It has smooth, gray bark on young trees that becomes fissured and purplish-brown with age. Its soft, blue-green needles grow in distinctive bundles of five, and its long, slender cones are often sticky with resin.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassPinopsidaOrderPinalesFamilyPinaceaeGenusPinus
western white pine
broadleaf_tree trait badgeconiferous trait badgeevergreen trait badgenut_bearing trait badge
western white pine

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Historically, this tree was highly valued for making tall ship masts.

It's easy to identify, as its soft needles always come in bundles of five!

Its light, strong wood is prized for making musical instruments and furniture.

The sticky resin from its cones was traditionally used for various purposes.

Special abilities

Ability

Sun Seeker

Western white pine can grow super tall, reaching for sunlight even in crowded forests.

Ability

Needle Shield

Western white pine has waxy, flexible needles that help it hold onto water and resist cold winds.

Ability

Tough Roots

Western white pine can grow in poor, rocky soils thanks to its strong and adaptable root system.

Measurements & details

Height
3000-6000 cm
Spread
600-1200 cm
Bloom Season
Spring
Edible
Yes
Toxicity
None
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Wind

Ecological connections

eats

Western gray squirrel

Sciurus griseus

eats the seeds from its cones

shelters

Spotted Owl

Strix occidentalis

nests in mature western white pine trees

parasitizes

White pine blister rust

Cronartium ribicola

a fungal disease that infects the tree's bark

symbiotic with

Orange-red truffle

Rhizopogon vinicolor

forms mycorrhizal associations with its roots

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Stay away from the tree's sharp cones and branches.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is western white pine?

3000-6000 cm

How wide does western white pine spread?

600-1200 cm

When does western white pine bloom?

Spring

Is western white pine edible?

Yes

Is western white pine toxic?

None

What is western white pine's lifecycle?

Perennial

How is western white pine pollinated?

Wind

Where is western white pine usually found?

Forests

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