Common Name: Eastern White Pine

General Information

Pinus strobus is an evergreen tree with a conical crown that becomes rounded to flattened with age; it can grow up to 67 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be up to 180cm in diameter[].
The plant has a wide range of traditional uses, being harvested for food, medicines and a range of various materials. It is a very important commercial source of timber and is harvested in quantity from wild stands and plantations. The tree is also grown as an ornamental and is used to provide shelter and to restore damaged environments, such as areas disturbed by strip mining for coal[].
Pinus strobus has a vast extent of occurrence, it is also spreading and increasing in many areas. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

The wood, sawdust and resins from various species of pine can cause dermatitis in sensitive people[].

Botanical References

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Range

Central and eastern N. America - Ontario to Newfoundland, south to Iowa, northern Georgia and N. Carolina

Habitat

Woods, especially on sandy drift soils or fertile well-drained soils, sometimes on river banks and rarely in swamps; at elevations up to 1,500 metres[, ]. Often forming dense forests[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	20.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Pinus strobus is a very cold-hardy plant, able to tolerate temperatures down to around -35°c when fully dormant[].
Pine species in general require a sunny position if they are to grow well and, whilst the different species have their own soil preferences, most will thrive in a light well-drained sandy or gravelly loam[, ]. Dislikes poorly drained moorland soils[]. Established plants tolerate drought[]. Intolerant of atmospheric pollution[].
The white pine is a very important timber crop in its native range, the huge stands that existed before the Europeans went to N. America have been largely cut down[]. It is a fast-growing and fairly long-lived tree[] that is often cultivated as a timber tree, especially in central Europe[].
Young trees grow very vigorously with new shoots of up to 1 metre common. Growth slows and almost ceases by the time the tree is 20 metres tall[].
Trees can produce cones when 5 - 10 years old, but reliable seed production takes another 10 years[]. Good crops are produced every 3 - 5 years in the wild, with little seed in the intervening years[].
The cylindrical seed cones are 8 - 20cm long and take two growing seasons to mature[, , ]. They open and shed their seed in late summer whilst still attached to the tree[, ].
Plants often self-sow in Britain[].
Plants are strongly outbreeding, self-fertilized seed usually grows poorly[]. They hybridize freely with other members of this genus[].
Trees have a very thin bark, which makes them particularly susceptible to forest fires[].
This species is very susceptible to white pine blister rust, it should not be grown near any gooseberries or currants (Ribes species) since these plants can act as vectors for the disease[, ]. Plants are also subject to aphid damage[]. Plants are more susceptible in areas with milder and moister winters[].
Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[].
Pinus strobus is the provincial tree of Ontario and the state tree of Maine and Michigan[].

Edible Uses

Seed - raw or cooked[, , ]. Rather small and fiddly, it is only about 6mm long[]. The seed is mainly used as a flavouring in cooking[].

The fresh needles are brewed into an aromatic tea that is rich in vitamins A and C[]. A refreshing drink is made from the leaves[].

An acceptable candy is made by boiling the tender new shoots in syrup[].

The sticky amber sap can be used for chewing[, ].

A vanillin flavouring is obtained as a by-product of other resins that are released from the pulpwood[].

The firm unexpanded male cones can be boiled and used as a flavouring[, ]. A pleasant sweet flavour[].

Inner bark - raw or cooked. A sweet flavour[, , , ]. There are no more details but inner bark is often dried, ground into a powder and then used as a thickener in soups etc or added to cereals when making bread.

Medicinal

Eastern white pine was employed medicinally by several native North American tribes who valued it especially for its antiseptic and vulnerary qualities, using it extensively in the treatment of skin complaints, wounds, burns, boils etc[]. It is also considered to be very beneficial to the respiratory system and so was used in treating coughs, colds, influenza and so on[].

Oil of turpentine, obtained from the oleo-resin of all pine trees, is antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, diuretic, rubefacient, stimulant and vermifuge[, ]. It is a valuable remedy used internally in the treatment of kidney and bladder complaints and is used both internally and as a rub and steam bath in the treatment of rheumatic affections[]. It is also very beneficial to the respiratory system and so is useful in treating diseases of the mucous membranes and respiratory complaints such as coughs, colds, influenza and TB[].
Applied externally in the form of liniment plasters, poultices, herbal steam baths and inhalers, it is a very beneficial treatment for a variety of skin complaints, wounds, sores, burns, boils etc[].
A poultice of pitch has been used to draw out toxins from boils and reduce the pain[].

The dried inner bark is demulcent, diuretic and expectorant[]. An infusion was used as a treatment for colds[] and it is still used as an ingredient in commercial cough syrups, where it serves to promote the expulsion of phlegm[].
A poultice made from the pounded inner bark is used to treat cuts, sores and wounds[]. The wetted inner bark can be used as a poultice on the chest in treating strong colds[].
The dried inner bark contains 10% tannin, some mucilage, an oleoresin, a glycoside and a volatile oil[].

A tea made from the young needles is used to treat sore throats[]. It is a good source of vitamin C and so is effective against scurvy[].

An infusion of the young twigs has been used in the treatment of kidney disorders and pulmonary complaints[].

The powdered wood has been used as a dressing on babies chaffed skin, sores and improperly healed navels[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The needles contain a substance called terpene, this is released when rain washes over the needles and it has a negative effect on the germination of some plants, including wheat[].
The plant is used to form shelterbelts, and is used in the restoration of areas disturbed by the strip mining of coal[].

Other Uses

A tan or green dye is obtained from the needles[].

An essential oil obtained from the twigst is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a masking agent[].
An extract of the cones is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a perfume and masking agent[].
An extract of the bark is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a skin conditioner[].

Oleo-resins are present in the tissues of all species of pines, but these are often not present in sufficient quantity to make their extraction economically worthwhile[]. The resins are obtained by tapping the trunk, or by destructive distillation of the wood[, ]. In general, trees from warmer areas of distribution give the higher yields[].
Oil of Turpentine consists of an average of 20% of the oleo-resin[] and is separated by distillation[, ]. Turpentine has a wide range of uses including as a solvent for waxes etc, for thinning and dissolving varnish and paints, a shoe polish, medicinal etc[, ].
Rosin is also obtained by distillation of pine resin. This is used in paper glue and soap manufacturing, as a constituent of varnishes and paints, and for coating the bows of stringed musical instruments such as violins[, ].
Pitch can also be obtained from the resin and is used for waterproofing, as a wood preservative etc[].

The wood is light in weight, straight and close-grained, smooth-textured, low in resin, soft, not strong, works easily and takes an excellent natural or painted finish[, , , , , ]. It weighs 24lb per cubic foot[]. A very valuable timber[], the wood is especially suited for making the masts of ships[] and is also an excellent construction timber, is used to make doors, windows etc for house interiors, cheap furniture,matches etc[, , , , , , ].

Propagation

It is best to sow the seed in individual pots in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe if this is possible otherwise in late winter. A short stratification of 6 weeks at 4°c can improve the germination of stored seed[]. Plant seedlings out into their permanent positions as soon as possible and protect them for their first winter or two[]. Plants have a very sparse root system and the sooner they are planted into their permanent positions the better they will grow[]. Trees should be planted into their permanent positions when they are quite small, between 30 and 90cm[]. We actually plant them out when they are about 5 - 10cm tall. So long as they are given a very good weed-excluding mulch they establish very well[]. Larger trees will check badly and hardly put on any growth for several years. This also badly affects root development and wind resistance[].
Cuttings. This method only works when taken from very young trees less than 10 years old. Use single leaf fascicles with the base of the short shoot. Disbudding the shoots some weeks before taking the cuttings can help. Cuttings are normally slow to grow away[].