Tree Talk: Eastern White Pine

Here's another one for lovers of big trees! Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) is an immense tree of immense historical, cultural, and economic importance. Once the dominant species of much of the northeastern U.S. and southeastern Canada, the enormous and economically valuable eastern white pine was a driving factor behind European colonial history. Old-growth white pine stands were cleared in the ensuing centuries, and the tree now mostly exists with a cohort of northern hardwood species, which it can eventually tower over. Eastern white pine is ecologically important and still commercially valuable, and is the state tree of Maine and Michigan, the state flower of Maine, and on the flag of Vermont.

Recorded on 12/2/22 in Wyoming County Pennsylvania, by Allyson Davis, who grew up only a few hundred feet from the specimen we're examining.

[MrFreeGman]

One thing you didn't mention is that the needles are edible, and you can make tea with them. Very rich in vitamin C and other antioxidants. The tea is said to have saved early settlers from scurvy during the winter months. In my personal experience, it tastes great and is not really what you'd expect, but you have to cut the ends off where the needles are bunched together, otherwise it will taste like turpentine. It goes great with raw honey.

[robothead]

Simply amazing. The fact you can walk through the forest and keep a beagle within view point is truly a feat few people are able to accomplish.

[MrPhilbillydeluxe]

Very very dominant tree in my area of Northern Ontario, can shake a stick in any direction and youll see these giants, some in pure stands.

[JohnOrr-mbhu]

Loved this Eastern White Pine tree talk. It's one of my very favorite trees. Another fun thing about them is that by counting the spaces or gaps between those branch whorls you can reliably tell how many years old, within a year or two, the tree is. That's because the buds for each year's branches are at the very tip of the tree and start growing out while the spike grows up, each Spring.
The distance of that space between the branches, from about 12 to 36 inches, is maintained through the life of the tree. So, if you can clearly see the top of the tree you can count back to good and poor growing seasons. Usually good or drought rainfall is the main factor. I've done this with wh. pine saplings I planted 30-plus years ago, and yep, it's true.

[EmeraldForester]

Clicked as soon as I saw the notification, one of my favorite pines, second to Table Mountain pine.

[ksero]

I admire a few in this one yard and was just looking everywhere to find out what these are, thinking they are some rare or crazy cultivar. Conifer facebook group all said Eastern White Pine. So excited and I'm looking to get some. I love that they get wide, but not TOO WIDE of a canopy, but I can stand up beneath them. I like that they can grow near Black Walnut. I also like how their light green color makes them visible in winter when in front of the dark woods of dormant deciduous trees. But I also read that if they are light green, then they are sick, and theyre being knocked out w needlecast, so now I'm worried and not sure if I should try.

[erinthetraveler]

Great video. Very informative and interesting. Also, your beagle is adorable. :)

[repetemyname]

One of my favorite trees. I had a chunk of land in northern WI that had just a couple big white pines and several dozen large red pines, and in one spot there was a red and a white growing so close together the trunks touched for the first 3 feet off the ground. Ive never seen that before, both trees were about 75 to 80 years old Id like to go back some day to see if they have survived the storms.
Large white pines make for great deer stands, back in the old days we used to just climb up the limbs and trim out a spot to sit about 12' off the ground, no rope, no seat, no safety strap. Young and foolish.

[TimberGrappler]

Excellent video my friend. Born and raised in central Pa myself, there are many monster Pines on family land that are just magnificent. Keep shining light on all of the wonderful trees Pennsylvania has to offer!

[raptorjesus]

I’ve been looking for a channel like yours for a while, thank you!

[p.k.butler]

Yours are the most comprehensive videos on trees! Thank you so much! I am using your videos to deepen the information I am learning from Penn State Ag Extension online courses.

[galinswigart]

Absolutely love this video series. So helpful!

[aimemacneil]

So helpful and knowledgeable video! I learned so much! 🌳 🌲

[LongueDuree]

Best white pine video out there! If you know of one better, please point me that way.

[edwardkuenzi]

I have one random one in my forest near Atlanta that was planted one year we got a plantable Christmas tree. It's a little south of its natural range. It got a head start on all the other trees around it, but is now likely to be outcompeted by the Loblolly pines more suited to the climate.

[michaelallen]

New subscriber, ive already watched most of your videos lol very well put together and looking forward to learning more

[AmieLynn_]

@MrFreeGman We love this Pineneedle tea in my house! Glad to see somebody else has mentioned it! I understand it’s been used by many indigenous people for years to aid in cold/flu and other illnesses because it’s so high in vitamin C!
Its flavor is amazing (as long as you cut the ends off like you mentioned) personally I like to drink it in the evening because it seems to help me sleep better!

[MikeLefebvre-gtnq]

Thank you so much for this video! Great info!

[noreenhewson]

Tree talk and Beagles… BAM! SUBSCRIBED!

[tonmeister]

the best. i'm a huge fan of this channel. thank you for your wisdom!