Eastern White Pine

Pinus strobus

Pinaceae · coniferous tree · native

Last updated May 11, 2026

Pinus strobus (Pinaceae) is a large five-needled pine native to eastern North America from Newfoundland to Manitoba south to Georgia and Iowa. It grows 80 to 120 feet tall with a distinctive layered, horizontal branching pattern that gives mature trees a picturesque silhouette. The soft, flexible, blue-green needles and smooth gray bark on young trees are characteristic.

Eastern white pine grows in full sun on moist, well-drained, acidic soil. It is intolerant of air pollution, road salt, and alkaline conditions. White pine blister rust and white pine weevil are the most significant threats. Many cultivars are available, from dwarf forms to full-sized shade trees. The species was historically the most important timber tree in eastern North America. Hardy in Zones 3a to 8b.

Quick Facts

Height

30–60 ft

Spread

16 ft

Growth Rate

Fast

Light

Sun to Part Shade

Soil

Well Drained

Water

Moderate

Hardiness

Zone Zones 3a–8b

Bloom Time

Non-flowering

Origin

Newfoundland to Manitoba, south to Georgia and Iowa

Damping-offHigh

Spring Sowing - Preemergence Damping-off Risk

Twig BlightHigh

Spring Spore Release

Eriophyid miteHigh

Spring Dispersal & Bud Invasion

Pine needle scaleHigh

Crawler Emergence

+ 4 more — see full disease and pest lists below

Phenological Calendar

Stage	Typical Window	What to Look For
Candle elongation BBCH 11	Feb 15-Mar 15	Pale, elongating shoots (candles) covered in papery scale leaves. Five needles per fascicle emerge as candle extends
Pollen release BBCH 61	May 1-May 31	Male strobili usually clustered at base of current year's candles; yellow pollen visible
Pollen shed complete BBCH 69	May 15-Jun 15	Female conelets (small, reddish or purple) visible at shoot tips after pollination
Cone development (year 1-2) BBCH 71	Jun 1-Aug 31	Cones elongate, becoming long and slender. 5-needle fascicles characteristic. Cones mature over second year
Cone maturity and seed shed BBCH 85	Sep 1-Nov 30	Woody cones 15-20 cm long with scales spreading; light brown, resinous cones. Winged seeds released as scales open

Diseases: Regionally Documented (24)

Endocronartium harknessii Western Gall Rust Cronartium ribicola White Pine Blister Rust Phytophthora spp. (P Phytophthora Root Rot Lophodermium spp. Lophodermium Needle Cast Lophodermella concolor Lophodermella Needle Cast Elytroderma deformans Elytroderma Needle Cast Arceuthobium spp. (parasitic plant) Dwarf Mistletoe Armillaria spp. — primarily A Armillaria Root Rot Symptom category — not a single disease Canker Cyclaneusma minus Cyclaneusma Needle Cast Several soilborne Damping-off Dothistroma septosporum (and/or D Dothistroma Needle Blight (Red Band) Gray Mold Heterobasidion occidentale Otrosina & Garbel Heterobasidion Root Disease In most Hypocotyl Rot and Root Rot Davisomycella medusa Medusa Needle Blight Rhabdocline spp. including R Needle Cast Needle Rusts Bursaphelenchus xylophilus Pine Wilt Excess sodium chloride Salt Damage Sirococcus conigenus Sirococcus Shoot Blight Fomitopsis officinalis, Porodaedalea pini, and other wood... Stem Decay Diaporthe vaccinii or Diplodia tip blight agents Tip Blight Multiple fungal species cause twig blight on different ho... Twig Blight

Pests: Regionally Documented (18)

Eriophyidae Eriophyid mite Pineus strobi Pine bark adelgid Dioryctria spp. Coneworm Pine Aphid Pissodes strobi White pine weevil Tetranychidae Spider mite Synanthedon sequoiae Sequoia pitch moth Pine Needle Sheathminer Pine Sheath Miner Chionaspis pinifoliae Pine needle scale Pine Butterfly Coloradia pandora Pandora moth Dendroctonus ponderosae Mountain pine beetle Rhyacionia buoliana European pine shoot moth Nuculaspis californica Black pineleaf scale Neodiprion spp. Pine sawfly Eulachnus agilis Powdery pine needle aphid Otiorhynchus spp. Root weevil Schizolachnus piniradiatae Woolly pine needle aphid

Cultivars (10)

'Alba'

Common name: Alba (Eastern) White Pine

Hardy to USDA Zone 3

'Fastigiata'

Common name: Fastigiata (Eastern) White Pine Upright (Eastern) White Pine; Mature height: 40 ft

Hardy to USDA Zone 3

'Ground Hugger'

Common name: Ground Hugger Eastern White Pine

Hardy to USDA Zone 3

'Louie'

Common name: Louie (Eastern) White Pine; Mature height: 25 ft

Hardy to USDA Zone 3

'Macopin'

Common name: Macopin (Eastern) White Pine

Hardy to USDA Zone 3

'Nana'

Common name: Dwarf (Eastern) White Pine

Hardy to USDA Zone 3

'Pendula'

Common name: Weeping (Eastern) White Pine

Hardy to USDA Zone 3

'Sea Urchin'

Common name: Sea Urchin (Eastern) White Pine

Hardy to USDA Zone 3

'Torulosa'

Common name: Twisted (Eastern) White Pine

Hardy to USDA Zone 3

'Verkades Broom'

Common name: Verkade's Broom (Eastern) White Pine Verkade's Witchbroom

Hardy to USDA Zone 3

Eastern white pine shares the white pine blister rust vulnerability of western white pine. The same rule applies: do not plant near Ribes species (currants and gooseberries). In the Puget Sound lowlands, the tree grows fast (40 feet by age 20) and develops a graceful, irregular form with age. It prefers well-drained, acidic soil and will not tolerate waterlogged or hardpan-restricted soils. Prune only October through January to prevent sequoia pitch moth from finding fresh wounds. Twenty-six diseases and 26 pests are documented, making it the most heavily burdened pine in our system alongside ponderosa. For lowland sites with decent drainage and no nearby ribes, eastern white pine can work, but it requires monitoring. For a lower-maintenance conifer, consider western redcedar or grand fir.

— Chris Welch, ISA Certified Arborist

Data Maturity

Structured Multiple sources. Expert review underway.