13 Most Common North American Pine Species

Pine is a coniferous tree in the genus Pinus, in the family Pinaceae. There are about 111 species of pines worldwide, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.

Pines are native to most of the Northern Hemisphere, with 49 species of native pines in North America. They are the most ubiquitous conifer in the United States, easily recognized by most people, and very successful in maintaining solid and valuable stands. Here are the most common and valuable pines that are native to the United States and Canada.

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Eastern White Pine

The Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) is identified best by its reddish-brown bark and deep furrows, which it acquires as the tree ages. It typically grows to be between 50 and 80 feet tall. The Easter white pine is commonly used for furniture and is sold as a Christmas tree.

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Western White Pine

Found mostly in parts of British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Montana, and California, the Western white pine (Pinus monticola) features blue-green needles that measure at about 3 to 4 inches long. The tree's bark is either dark or light grey and becomes checked with age.

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Sugar Pine

The sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana) can be identified by its huge cones, which can reach lengths of more than 20 inches and are about 4 to 6 inches wide. Sugar pines can grow to great heights, as well—as tall as 250 feet, although the average size is 130-200 feet. You can find this species in the mountainous regions of the Pacific coast.

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Red Pine

Red pine (Pinus resinosa) can grow to be 75 feet tall or more, depending on the environmental conditions. Its bark is mostly reddish-brown and sometimes pink or grey, featuring scaly plates. Red pines have two needles per fascicle and are measured at about 4-6 inches long.

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Pitch Pine

Pitch pine trees (Pinus rigida) grow along the eastern North American coast and as far south as northern Georgia. This species thrives in a humid climate and on sandy, shallow soils. Pitch pines have been reported to live for up to 200 years and grow to about 100 feet tall.

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Jack Pine

A small- to medium-sized species, jack pine (Pinus banksiana) is found in the Great Lakes region and parts of Canada. This rapidly growing evergreen tree has a small, rounded crown with short bundles of needles. Jack pine is often used for timber and sometimes landscaping.

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Longleaf Pine

Longleaf pines (Pinus palustris) have bright green needles and thick bark features scales. The tree can take up to 150 years to mature, living for even longer under ideal growing conditions. You can find longleaf pines in the southeastern United States.

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Shortleaf Pine

With the widest range of all of the pine species in the southeastern United States, it won't be too difficult to find a shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata) tree. This species is also one of the most common commercial conifers, as it is used for lumber, pulpwood, and more.

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Loblolly Pine

The loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) grows quickly, with a spread of between 30 and 35 feet, reaching as tall as 80 feet sometimes. These trees produce cones that are about three to six inches in length and are reddish-brown in color. Loblolly pine grows mostly throughout the southern United States and along both coasts.

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Slash Pine

The slash pine (Pinus elliottii) is a heavily branched tree, featuring long, dark green needles that do not change color in the fall. Its bark is reddish-brown and has furrows and thin scales.

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Virginia Pine

A small tree that might grow to be as tall as 40 feet, Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana) is pyramid-shaped when young, and the crown flattens out with age. Its needles cluster on dwarf shoots, are short, and are yellow-green to dark green in color. Virgina pine tends to attract butterflies, moths, birds, and small mammals.

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Lodgepole Pine

The lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) can be identified by its slender trunk and narrow crown. It can thrive in a variety of conditions, with low or high moisture.

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Ponderosa Pine

Also known as western yellow pine, ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) is found scattered along western North America, from southern Canada down to Mexico. The bark of this species has a rough texture, developing large plates as it matures.

View Article Sources

Gernandt, David. S., Gretel Geada López, Sol Ortiz García, and Aaron Liston. "Phylogeny and classification of Pinus." Taxon, vol. 54, 2018, pp. 29-42. doi:10.2307/25065300
Hernández-León, Sergion, David S. Gernandt, Jorge A. Pérez de la Rosa, and Lev Jardón-Barbolla. "Phylogenetic Relationships and Species Delimitation in Pinus Section Trifoliae Inferrred from Plastid DNA." PLOS ONE, vol.8, no. 7, 2013, pp. e70501. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0070501