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Norway Pine (Red Pine)

Norway pine also called red pine is a species of medium-sized, evergreen coniferous trees found in North America. Growing in pure, hardwood, or mixed-conifer stands, the Norway pine commonly occurs with Virginia pine, Table Mountain pine, pitch pine, and eastern white pine. It has a conical crown that becomes rounded dome at maturity.

Norway Pine

Scientific Classification

Kingdom	Plantae
Division	Pinophyta
Class	Pinopsida
Order	Pinales
Family	Pinaceae
Genus	Pinus
Subgenus	Pinus
Scientific Name	Pinus resinosa

Norway Pine Tree

Red Pine

Quick Information

Other Names	Northern pine, Pin rouge (French)
Size	Height: 66-115 ft (20-35 m); can reach 143 ft (43.7 m) Trunk Diameter: 3 ft 3 in (1 m)
Identification	Leaves (Needles): Dark yellow-green, two needles in each fascicle, snap when bent, 12-18 cm long Cones: Symmetrical ovoid, purple when young, ripen to nut-blue, 4-6 cm long, 2.5 broad Bark: Thick, grayish-brown base; thin, bright-orange, flaky upper crown in young trees; become plated with age
Distribution/Range	From eastern North America and Newfoundland west to Minnesota, Manitoba; also in the Appalachian Mountains, West Virginia, northern New Jersey, central Illinois
Hardiness Zones	3-6
Growth Rate	Slow to medium; 1-1.5 ft per year
Lifespan	Long-lived tree, can survive up to 500 years
Growing Conditions	Winter Conditions: Cold winters with average temperatures ranging between -18° and -4° C Summer Conditions: Cool to warm; average temperatures range from 16-20° C Rain: 510-1,010 mm per year Sunlight: Full sun Soil Requirements: Sandy loam, moist, well-drained, acidic; sometimes grow in rocky and dry soil
Diseases and Pests	Shoestring root rot, Scleroderris canker, Fomes root rot; insects like pine shoot beetle, jack pine budworm, white pine weevil, European pine shoot moth, and pine root-collar weevil cause damage
Flowering/Fruiting	Flowers appear during April-June; pollination takes place during May-June, fertilization occurs in mid-July the following year
Breeding System	Monoecious
Seed Production	Starts at 15-25 years of age, best produced from 50-150 years
Seedling Development	Seedlings emerge in moderate conditions, with the temperature ranging from 21°-30° C and rainfall greater than 100 mm during the growing season
Wildlife Value	Provide habitat and nesting sites for pine warbler, osprey, bald eagle, and great blue heron; white-tailed deer and snowshoe hares browse the shoots and seedlings; squirrels, meadow voles, and white-footed mice consume the seeds
Varieties/Cultivars	‘Don Smith,’ ‘Morel,’ ‘Globosa,’ ‘Fastigiata,’ ‘Aurea,’ ‘Baxter,’ etc.
Uses	For wood production including poles, piling, cabin logs, lumber, posts, pulpwood, mine timbers, railway ties, box boards, and fuel; as a bonsai, ornamental, and Christmas tree; for sandblow control, windbreaks, and snowbreaks
IUCN Conservation Status	Least Concern