Pinus strobus
Eastern White Pine
Reaching heights up to 150 feet, the towering Eastern White Pine is a real king within the forests of the Mountain Top and the tallest native conifer in the East. This regal giant is capable of living four centuries or more. One clue that you are looking at a White Pine is to examine the needles, which are usually bunched in groups of five. Conveniently, this is also the number of letters in the word white—a useful thing to remember if you’re trying to ID pines. The massively tall and straight trunks of the White Pine were once used for ship masts. Its needles continue to be used in traditional teas and offer high amounts of Vitamin C. White Pine is another of the “pioneer” tree species that establishes itself quickly on recently-cleared or disturbed areas.