# 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. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 4 - **Habitat:** Forests ![western white pine](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Pinus_monticola_Idaho3.jpg&width=800) Photo: Chris Schnepf, University of Idaho, USA, CC BY 3.0 us · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pinus_monticola_Idaho3.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Pinopsida - **Order:** Pinales - **Family:** Pinaceae - **Genus:** Pinus ## 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 - **Sun Seeker:** Western white pine can grow super tall, reaching for sunlight even in crowded forests. - **Needle Shield:** Western white pine has waxy, flexible needles that help it hold onto water and resist cold winds. - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-gray-squirrel) (*Sciurus griseus*) — eats the seeds from its cones - **Shelter:** 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 - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [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. - [Nut Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nut-bearing): Nut bearing plants produce hard-shelled fruits, commonly known as nuts, which contain a single seed and are a valuable food source. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [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. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Stay away from the tree's sharp cones and branches. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify western white pine? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### 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 to spot - [Mehatl Creek Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mehatl-creek-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Nobles Emigrant Trail](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/nobles-emigrant-trail) — California, US · Trail - [Yosemite Valley](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/yosemite-valley) — California, US · Natural Landmark - [West Shawnigan Lake Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/west-shawnigan-lake-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park [View all places to see western white pine](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/western-white-pine) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Western White Pine: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-white-pine)