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Home > Pine > Norway Pine (Red Pine)

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

Red Pine Tree

Norway Pine Bark

Red Pine Needles

Minnesota State Tree

Interesting Facts

  • Since Norway pine is a self-pruning tree, dead branches are rarely visible on it.
  • In 1953, red pine was recognized as the state tree of Minnesota.

Red Pine Cones

Red Pine Leaves

References:

  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinus_resinosa
  2. https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/tree/pinres/all.html
  3. http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=110
  4. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/42410/2978087
  5. https://www.friendsofthewildflowergarden.org/pages/plants/pine_red.html

Published on December 10th 2016 by admin under Pine.
Article was last reviewed on 5th December 2022.

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