The tree can be identified by its long, soft, blue-green needles.
Eastern white pine is the only white pine in the Eastern U.S. that bears five needles to a bundle.
These bundles form clusters that look like little brushes.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Eastern white pine has a lifespan of 200 years.
The tree has a graceful, rounded pyramidal shape.
It makes an excellent windbreak and shade tree and can be clipped into hedges.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Improve compacted clay soils with compost before planting.
Give eastern white pine lots of space.
Plant specimen trees at least 20 to 30 feet away from any other trees or shrubs.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Light
This tree does well with at least four hours of direct sunlight each day.
But the hotter the climate, the more it appreciates a bit of afternoon shade.
Soil
Eastern white pine likes acidic soil (pH of 5.5) that is well-drained.
A thick bed ofpine needle mulchover the root zone will cool the soil.
Eastern white pine remains a happy specimen if given about 1 inch of water weekly.
Temperature and Humidity
Eastern white pine doesn’t like very hot climates.
This is a tree that prefers cool, humid weather.
At the warmer end of its hardiness range, it sometimes struggles.
For the amount, follow the fertilizer label instructions.
Propagating Eastern White Pine
This tree is fairly easy to propagate from seeds.
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
Unfortunately, eastern white pine is susceptible to many pests and diseases.
A variety of blight and rust diseases are possible, one of whichwhite pine blister rustoften kills the trees.
double-check this disease is not common in your area before planting an eastern white pine.
Especially when it’s still under 20 feet tall, white pine weevils attack the tree.
The system of pesticides is difficult with large trees.
In alkaline soil, most micronutrients become less available.
Compacted soil leads to poor drainage, causing root rot.
The cones are difficult to rake up in fall and slow to decompose.
In spring, its pollen dirties decks.
Worse, it will drop hard-to-clean pitch down on the windshield of any car parked under it.
Place fencing around young trees to protect them.
The required sun exposure depends on your location.
The farther north, the more sun it needs.
In warmer southern climates, the tree does best in partial shade.
Western white pine (Pinus monticola) looks similar to eastern white pine but there are a few differences.
Its native habitat is the northern states of the Pacific Northwest.
