Photo of Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus)

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Photographer & Copyright

© Charlie Hohn

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CC BY 4.0

Inclusion in Plant ID / Comparison Guides

This photo is featured in 3 plant ID/comparison guides:

Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda) vs. Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus)

Updated January 8th, 2023

Both of these pines like richer, moister habitats than most pines. Although their range overlap is limited in the wild, both are widely planted in landscaping and forest plantations, and both have expanded their ranges near the area of overlap. They are easily distinguished by needles, bark, cones, and form. P. taeda ranges much farther south, requires more sun, is more tolerant of poor drainage, and is more likely in flat terrain. P. strobus is more shade-tolerant, more demanding of good drainage, and is more likely in sheltered ravines.

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Shortleaf Pine (Pinus echinata) vs. Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus)

Updated January 5th, 2023

These species are sometimes confused where their ranges overlap, as both tend to have more delicate-looking foliage with thin needles of similar length, and can tower over deciduous forests. They are easily distinguished by cones, bark, count of needles per bundle, and crown shape. Pinus strobus ranges much farther north, is more shade-tolerant, and in the areas of range overlap is more restricted to cool, humid sites. Pinus echinata ranges much farther south and southwest, prefers dry sites, and is more strictly limited to sites with acidic, leached soils.

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Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus) vs. Red Pine (Pinus resinosa)

Updated December 17th, 2021

Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) and red pine (Pinus resinosa) are often confused where their ranges overlap. Both are large, long-lived, straight-growing trees with long needles, frequently seen towering over other trees in a forest. They are easily distinguished by needle count per bundle, cone length, and bark color. With experience, they can also be identified at a glance by crown shape and foliage color and texture. Although both species are grown in plantations, red pine is rarely grown in landscaping. Although their habitats overlap and both frequently grow near lakes, white pine is found in richer, more humid habitats, and can be found farther south, whereas red pine is restricted to a more northerly range and sites with poorer, usually sandy soil.

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