Landscape AlterNATIVEs: A Guide to Native Landscape Plants EASTERN WHITE PINE (PINUS STROBUS)

by Steven Yergeau,

Native plants are a good way to incorporate sustainable vegetation into yards for clients who are environmentally minded. Native plants are adapted to local climate and soil conditions, requiring less water, fertilizers, and pesticides than non-native vegetation. For landscapers who have property owners looking for native vegetation, below is an option to meet your clients’ needs.

Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) is an evergreen conifer, a cone-bearing plant with needles instead of leaves. It is one of the largest conifers found along the East Coast, growing to 150 feet and spreading to 40 feet at maturity.

Eastern white pine is identified by the cluster of five needles on its branches (Figure 1). These needles are flexible, grow up to 5 inches long, and bluish-green in color. While considered an evergreen, eastern white pine needles can become

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brown and drop in the fall. If the needles drop during other times of the year, it may indicate the tree is under stress (for example, from excessive watering or rain).

Its pinecones have seeds eaten by a variety of animals such as squirrels, deer, mice, and songbirds. The cones grow up to 8 inches long and mature in the fall. Any maintenance of eastern white pine needs to account for these cones which can be a nuisance if left on lawns. One use of the cones is in holiday decorations such as wreaths.

Eastern white pine grows in a wide range of soils but does well in welldrained sandy soils. It can grow in moist soils but it is best to avoid saturated soils and heavy clays. It grows best in acidic and slightly acidic soils (pH <7.0). Eastern white pine does well in open, sunny areas with little to no shade.

Eastern white pine provides year-round foliage as a privacy screen, hedgerow, or windbreak (Photo 2). It is a good choice to use instead of non-native evergreens, such as Norway spruce (Picea abies), gold thread cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera), and Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens). You can find nurseries in New Jersey that sell native plants by visiting the JerseyFriendly Yards website at http://www. jerseyyards.org/jersey-friendly-plants/ where-to-buy-native-plants/.

Steven Yergeau, Ph.D. is the Dept. Head and Agricultural Agent for Rutgers Co-operative Extension of Ocean County. He is also Assistant Professor for Ocean & Atlantic Counties. For more info visit http:// ocean.njaes.rutgers.edu.