Virginia Pine vs Jack Pine
This guide is under construction and has not been published yet. It may have errors. When in doubt, double-check other sources for definitive ID.These species can be easily confused as both have very short needles. Originally, these species barely overlapped in range, but P. banksiana has been planted south of its native range and P. virginiana west of its native range, so the zone of overlap is larger. They are easily told apart by examination of their cones; some plants can be identified as P. virginiana by longer needles.
Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana) | Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana) |
A short-needled pine native mostly to the Appalachians and nearby, growing as a pioneer species on dry sites in hilly terrain. | A fire-adapted pine with a northerly distribution in North America, the densest parts of its range in Canada, northern New England, and the upper midwest. |
 Needles are short for a pine, but at their longest, can be slightly longer (2-8cm) Photo © Siddarth Machado, CC BY 4.0. |  Needles are always extremely short (2-5cm) Photo © Laura Gaudette, CC BY 4.0. |
 Cones are more-or-less symmetrical and straight, if curving or bulging, only doing so slightly. Cone scales tipped with a slender, sharp prickle that is usually retained for a long time. Photo © Jeff Clark, CC BY 4.0. |  Cones are strongly asymmetrical, tending to bulge on one side and curve at the tip. Cone scales may lack a prickle entirely, or possess only a small, delicate one that is quickly shed. Photo © Aaron Boers, CC BY 4.0. |
References & External Resources
These short lists show only links helpful for ID. For a complete list of references and resources also covering other aspects of ecology, visit the links section of the full article on each plant, which is the first entry here.
