Bright green tall white pine tree against a clear blue sky
forest of white pine tree trunks
close up of white pine cone and green needles
MDNR image of white pine cone and characteristics
Bright green tall white pine tree against a clear blue sky
forest of white pine tree trunks
close up of white pine cone and green needles
MDNR image of white pine cone and characteristics

White Pine (Pinus strobus)

from $33.00

A majestic native evergreen, Eastern White Pine is prized for its soft, blue-green needles and graceful, feathery appearance. As Michigan’s state tree, it adds year-round beauty and structure to the landscape. Its tall, straight trunk and broad, pyramidal form make it a standout specimen or backdrop for naturalized plantings. Mature trees produce slender cones and provide valuable cover and food for wildlife throughout the seasons.

Well-suited to Northern Michigan (Zone 5a), Eastern White Pine grows best in well-drained soils but adapts to a variety of conditions, including sandy and rocky sites. Its fast growth and tolerance of cold climates make it an ideal choice for windbreaks, reforestation, and large landscapes. This conifer supports numerous bird species and mammals, offering nesting habitat and seeds as a food source.

Bloom Time: Cones appear in spring; seeds mature in fall

Sun: Full sun to part shade

Mature Height: 50–80 ft (can exceed 100 ft in ideal conditions)

Soil: Moist, well-drained; tolerates sandy and rocky soils

Wildlife: Provides nesting sites and seeds for birds and small mammals

Uses: Windbreaks, reforestation, wildlife habitat, natural screens, year-round interest

Bare Root Seedling Height: 4-8”

Quantity:

A majestic native evergreen, Eastern White Pine is prized for its soft, blue-green needles and graceful, feathery appearance. As Michigan’s state tree, it adds year-round beauty and structure to the landscape. Its tall, straight trunk and broad, pyramidal form make it a standout specimen or backdrop for naturalized plantings. Mature trees produce slender cones and provide valuable cover and food for wildlife throughout the seasons.

Well-suited to Northern Michigan (Zone 5a), Eastern White Pine grows best in well-drained soils but adapts to a variety of conditions, including sandy and rocky sites. Its fast growth and tolerance of cold climates make it an ideal choice for windbreaks, reforestation, and large landscapes. This conifer supports numerous bird species and mammals, offering nesting habitat and seeds as a food source.

Bloom Time: Cones appear in spring; seeds mature in fall

Sun: Full sun to part shade

Mature Height: 50–80 ft (can exceed 100 ft in ideal conditions)

Soil: Moist, well-drained; tolerates sandy and rocky soils

Wildlife: Provides nesting sites and seeds for birds and small mammals

Uses: Windbreaks, reforestation, wildlife habitat, natural screens, year-round interest

Bare Root Seedling Height: 4-8”

Identification: White pines can be identified by their clusters of long, soft, blue-green needles that grow in bundles of five. This differentiates them from red and jack pines, whose needles grow in bundles of two. The trees have red-brown bark that forms scaly plates. They produce elongated 3-8-inch cones containing small, winged seeds.

Mature Height: 50-100 feet 

Preferences: Full sun to partial shade. Hardiness zones 3-8.  

Wildlife Value: White pine seeds and shoots are eaten by birds and small mammals. The inner bark is eaten by hares, porcupines, and beavers. White pines provide shelter and nesting sites for birds like woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches, and mourning doves.

Uses: The wood of the white pine is valuable because it is soft and easy to work with, does not warp easily, and has less resin and knots than other conifers. White pine was the backbone of the Michigan lumber industry during the late 19th century when Michigan led the nation in lumber production. Today, white pine is used to make doors, moldings, cabinets, and furniture. It is also commonly grown for Christmas trees.

Source: “Michigan Trees”, Michigan DNR