(Pinus strobus) White Pine

Origin Northeastern North America

 

As the social-ecological-agricultural transformation of the New England landscape into patches of woodlots, pasture, and planting fields (the majority of land was open fields by the early 1800’s) shifted towards another phase of transformation during industrialization and urbanization –as happened here in Worcester at the crown headwaters region of the Blackstone River- white pines quickly established populations on old abandoned farmland by outcompeting and growing faster than other trees. The “old field white pine” forests became so abundant across the northeastern U.S. that forest mappers identified much of New England as the “ White Pine Region” at the turn of last century.

 

The overall trend of forest regeneration during industrialization continued through to the post-industrial present where 60-95% of New England landscape is now forest cover. White pine populations began to decrease in the late 1800’s, however, due to the development of a logging industry that now centers on the hardwood species ( oak, maple, beech, etc.) that grew in succession under white pine trees and upon cut pinelands. White pine wood was used for building containers such as boxes and barrels, as well as for ship masts during colonial times due to its ability to grow tall and straight.

 

One winter day just before the new year of 1852, Henry David Thoreau, stood on Fair Haven Hill in Concord, and observed two men sawing down a white (“noble”) pine. He eulogized the felled tree, stating “ a plant which has taken two centuries to perfect, rising by slow stages into the heavens, has this afternoon ceased to exist….why does not the village bell sound a knell”. Acutely aware of the likely diminishment of wildlife, Thoreau wondered about a hen-hawk that “will mourn for the pines lofty enough to protect her brood.”

 

Endlessly observant and inquisitive, however, Thoreau returned the next day to measure the tree’s age and height and found the 105 foot tree was only ninety-four years old, while an even taller (115 ft) and slight older (ninety-six) white pine – four feet in diameter- was lying beside it; a testimony to how fast the white pine could grow. Thoreau’s follow through represents science and poetry intertwined.

 

The tallest living white pine is 167 feet tall ( a dozen feet shy of the Holy Name wind turbine hub), growing in a deeply forested area with rich soils (PA state). Trees growing in exposed areas are much shorter due to losing their leaders from events such as ice storms, wherein the tree forms flat tops. The central Massachusetts Ice Storm of 2008 caused wide spread felling and leader loss of white pines; gun cracking sounds were created at night as leaders and branches snapped and fell to the ground.

 

White pines needlelike leaves, in groups of five; cones are 4 to 7 inches in length, and with age bark become thick, broad, with rectangular ridges. White pines are also abundant in Northeast swamps. Can tolerate long periods of wet and dry soil.

 

Family: Pine

Soil: moist, well drained

Light: sun to partial sun

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7

 

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