Maine Tree Species Fact
Sheet
 Common
Name:
Red Pine
(Norway
Pine or Hard Pine)
Botanical
Name: Pinus resinosa
Tree
Type:
Coniferous
Physical Description:
Growth Habit: Red pine does
well on exposed, dry, acid, sandy or gravelly soils. The bark on young
trees is scaly and orange-red, eventually breaking up into large, flat,
reddish brown, superficially scaly plates, irregularly diamond-shaped in
outline. The twigs are medium textured, orange-brown in color with
orange-brown buds. The evergreen leaves (needles) are arranged in
clusters of 2 and are 4 to 6 inches long, dark green, soft and
flexible. The needles break cleanly, at a sharp angle, when doubled
between the fingers.
Height:
When growing under natural conditions,
the red pine reaches a height of 90-100 feet and a trunk diameter
of 30 to 40 inches. This species is hardy to Zone 5.
Shape: Young
red pines have branches extending to the ground and form a conical
outline. Later, the head is rounded and picturesque. In old age, the
crown is somewhat symmetrically oval with tufted foliage.
Fruit/Seed
Description/Dispersal Methods:
The flowers of the red pine are
monoecious. The males are almost round, light red in color and occur in
large clusters at branch tips. The female flowers are a round,
reddish-brown short cone.
The cones are much like an egg in shape, about 2
inches long and borne on short stalks. The base of fallen cones is
hollow. The cones mature in the fall of the second season and usually
remain on the branches until the following summer. The cone scales are
smooth and without spines.
Range within
Maine:
Red pine, though
common, is found only locally throughout the state, growing on dry,
rocky ridges, or light, sandy soil. Groves are usually scattered
through forests of other species. The beautiful "Cathedral Pines" occur
near Eustis.
Distinguishing
Features:
The tree gets its
name from the bright orange-colored or reddish bark, which divides into
large plates as the tree matures. The leaves of the red pine are
arranged in clusters of 2, which break cleanly, at a sharp angle, when
doubled between the fingers.
Interesting
Features:
The red pine is native only to North
America. Red pine is often called Norway pine, and this name comes from
pre-colonial times, when English explorers confused the tree with Norway
spruce. Red and white pines often grow in the same environment. Like
white pine, red pine was often used in ship masts. The British Navy was
buying trunks from North America as late as 1875.
Red pine is used in construction and is
made into interior wood trim, flooring, poles, piles, pulpwood,
Christmas trees, bridges, railroad ties, and firewood. The color of the
wood varies from light brown to reddish brown. It is quite light,
slightly resinous, and straight-grained. Red pine absorbs preservatives
well. The bark was formerly used for tanning leather. Red pine is
used extensively in reforestation and dune and snowdrift control.
Relationship to Wildlife:
White-tailed deer browse saplings and
young trees and snowshoe hares feed on seedlings. Red squirrels,
chipmunks, mice, red crossbills, pine grosbeaks, and pine siskins eat
pine seeds.
Landscape Use:
Red pine is a
picturesque and desirable tree for the landscape, which survives under
adverse conditions.
Common
Problems or Pests of the Tree in Maine:
The Pinus genus is susceptible to a
variety of diseases and pests including root rot, rusts, cankers,
blights, scale, sawflies, pine needle miner, pine spittlebugs, pine
webworm and the pine root collar weevil.
References:
Forest Trees of
Maine. Twelfth Edition.
Maine Forest Service/Department of Conservation. 1995.
Know Your Trees.
Cope, J.A. and F.E. Winch.
Cornell Cooperative Extension. 1992.
Manual of Woody
Landscape Plants, 5th Edition.
Dirr, Michael A.
Publishing L.L.C. 1998.
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