PLANT OF THE MONTH

Unusual for a pine, the cones of Jack Pine normally point forward along the branch, sometimes curling around it.

JIM FUNAI, LIC Cuyahoga Community College SHELLEY FUNAI, LIC Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens

PINUS BANKSIANA

JACK PINE

It is estimated that prior to European expansion westward into Ohio, some 200 years ago, our state was mostly forested with somewhere between 90% to 95% of the land covered in trees. Pretty hard to imagine as you cruise down I-71, right? The 19th century brought rapid change to Ohio’s land use, with a solid 100 years of forest removal for industrial and agricultural purposes. By the early 1900s, our great state was decimated of tree cover, down to less than 10% of total area having been forested. Basically, we clear-cut the state of trees for financial gain and then continued west, doing the same to Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and so on. Kinda makes you question how we can shame farmers for cutting down the Amazon forest today, so that they can make money feeding the United States’ beef addiction, rather than supplying us with free oxygen – or not.

Today, our state is holding steady at around 30% forested, mostly in the non-glaciated east, southeast and the northeast. So, what happened in the last 80 to 90 years that brought back 20% of our tree cover? Much like today, the 1920s and ’30s saw a drastic social and economic explosion that changed life as we knew it. The second industrial revolution pulled people from the farms to the factories, as production was booming in our country. People gave up a life that followed the sun for a life controlled by the time clock. Following decades of boom, the Great Depression struck our world and caused rapid change. In respect to land use, many of those who had not already abandoned the farm quickly fled for the city to find work. continued on page 24

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Around that time, Ohio found a perfect opportunity to support the fledgling State Forestry Agency and teamed up with the Federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) to begin official survey and analysis of our forest cover in effort to execute plans to reforest the state. While nature was busy performing natural succession, slowly reclaiming abandoned farms and turning them back into forests, the Division of Forestry was hard at work planting and growing trees… trees for homeowners, landowners, state lands… wherever they could plant them and as many as possible.

So, what trees were quick and easy to reproduce and grew quick enough to increase cover, reduce erosion, and protect habitat? Mostly pines. The Division of Forestry nurseries cranked out our native White Pine (Pinus strobis), non-native Austrian Pine (P. nigra), non-native Scotch Pine (P. sylvestris), and not-really Ohio native Red Pine (P. resinosa). This created a cultural shift within our nurseries and in the demand and use of trees in Ohio. What’s important to note is that the forest that was cut down originally was dominated by Oak (Quercus), Beech (Fagus), and Maple (Acer) throughout most of the state, with the northwest being dominated by Elm (Ulmus) and Ash (Fraxinus) through the boggy lowlands. Nevertheless, pines were easy to reproduce, fast to grow and better than nothing. This culture shift is evident today in the legacy plants surrounding our urban areas of various pines. Perhaps not the original plants from the efforts of the ’30s and ’40s, but lasting impressions of easy to grow and plant trees of the ’50s through the ’80s, and perhaps ’90s. We bet you’ve cut down a lot of Scotch and Austrian Pines due to Diplodia, or other fungal infections, but didn’t replace them with same species. It is a shame, because they are beautiful pines, and when used sparingly (to help prevent spread of fungal infection) may still be of value.

Pines are a beautiful type of tree – and shrub – and in their native stands create a vastly different, quieter, more prehistoric feeling forest. Like all landscape planning, pines do best in the landscape by being sited in the proper conditions and with a diversity of plants around them. Even windbreaks and screens should be made of at least 5 different species breaking up the mass effect.

This month, we introduce a pine that may find a great place in your landscape planning. Pinus banksiana, the Jack Pine, is a North American native pine, but not native to Ohio. This is one of the coldest hardy trees of North America, reaching just below the Arctic Circle through much of Canada and

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into Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. There are some scatterings in Maine, as well. Surprisingly, this tree can be found in gardens into Zone 6, but any warmer and they just won’t make it.

This is a two-needle pine with 2-inch long, yellow-green needles that have a slight curve. Leaves are held for 3 to 4 years, which helps keep the overall look of the pine fuller than those that drop after 2 years. Unlike most pines, this tree does not just grow in annual whorls. This pine will develop internodal branches – known as lammas growth – where the next year’s terminal growth buds open and develop during the current season. This also creates a denser looking pine than many. Expect a mature size in the 30 feet tall and wide range, with very quick growth in youth. The habit will be unique to each plant, usually kind of wild or shrubby looking, unless careful pruning guides it.

While this plant is extremely adaptable, there are three things you must avoid to keep it happy. No shade, no wet feet, and no heat. This is more of a suburban tree; the urban heat island will kill it. Wet soils will kill it. Shade will stunt it to useless. However, here, outside its native range, it likely won’t encounter the few insects and issues that cause problems for it up North. Be mindful of White Pine Weevil, as it may attack this pine, though is easily treated.

In the native range, this plant reseeds heavily, causing large colonies. This is only accomplished by forest fire with the cones waiting decades to release seed until a fire comes through and opens them to reforest the area. So, unless your client has a habit of burning their landscape down, you will not find this plant reseeding in the landscape!

Think about adding this tree to a design where you need a little less formal shape with some pine tree/evergreen effect. Perhaps a client that likes the aesthetic of the Rockies? Mixing this with some Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides) and some large boulder outcrops along a large stream, pond, or water feature will create an instant mountain scene!

Jim Funai, PhD, is full-time faculty at Cuyahoga Community College, a NALP accredited associate of applied science in hoticulture degree program. He has a PhD in Landscape Engineering and Forestry and is a Licensed Arborist. Shelley Funai is Grounds Manager at Stan Hywett Hall and Gardens in Akron, Ohio, which offers a historic estate designed by Warren H. Manning and a beautiful manor house museum. She is Landscape Industry Certified in Ornamental Plant Care.