3 Native Pine Trees In Minnesota (Pictures & Identification)
With over 126 known varieties, pine trees are a common sight all over the world. If you’re a Minnesotan, you might be wondering how many of these species are native to your state.
The answer is three, and we’ll go over each of these native pines in this article. There is detailed information on their identification, range, and natural habitats, as well as high-quality photographs.
So, let’s explore the beauty of native pine trees in Minnesota.
1. Jack Pine
- Common Name: Jack Pine
- Scientific Name: Pinus banksiana
- Mature Height: 50 to 70 feet
- Native/Non-Native: Native
- Flowers/Cones: Cones
- Uses: Lumber, firewood, windbreaks, box material, craft paper
Jack Pine trees are the most commonly seen pine trees in Minnesota.
They are tall, slender tree that grows in pure stands in Minnesota’s north-central and northeastern districts. Because it is resistant and thrives on poor quality, sandy soil, it is the first to occupy ground after a fire.
The Jack Pine’s trunk is straight, with spreading branches that have few or no leaves. For many years, small dead branches can be seen on trees. Jack Pine needles are one inch long, ridged, highly pointed, and slightly twisted, making them shorter than those of other pine trees. They live on branchlets for around three years.
The cones of the Jack Pine are about a half-inch long and often severely curled. They begin brown when mature, but turn gray with age and can sometimes be found on branches for many years, unopened and retaining healthy seeds.
In strong gusts, these little, winged triangular seeds can go a long distance. Some trees are even seven years old and have mature cones.
While Jack Pine wood is light and delicate, it is not very strong. It has a close grain and a clear pale brown tone, as well as thick, almost white sapwood. Jack Pine is mostly used for laths, box material, craft paper, and firewood because it is frequently too weak for construction.
Because of its tenacity, it is increasingly used for lumber and as a windbreak. While not the most visually appealing tree, the Jack Pine is an important and long-lasting species in Minnesota.
2. White Pine
- Common Name: White Pine
- Scientific Name: Pinus strobus
- Mature Height: Up to 130 feet
- Native/Non-Native: Native
- Flowers/Cones: Cones
- Uses: Lumber, shingles, cabinet making, interior finish of buildings, wooden ware
Next to jack pine, White pine trees are the second most common pine trees in Minnesota. These trees are distinguished from other Minnesota pines by its soft, gray-green needles that are organized in bundles of five.
This tree is renowned for its straight trunk and regular pyramidal shape, and it can reach heights of up to 130 feet and diameters of up to 44 inches.
Young tree branches extend horizontally in whorls, organized in rings on the stem to represent the years of upward growth. The bark of young trees is thin, smooth, and greenish-gray, whereas the bark of older trees becomes thick, severely wrinkled, and grayish-brown.
White Pine cones are cylindrical, 4 to 6 inches long, and covered in thin, sticky scales that enclose two tiny winged seeds. At the end of the second season, the cones reach maturity.
White pine thrives in fertile, well-drained soil and can be found throughout the state’s northern, central, and eastern regions.
It can also be found as far south as Houston County along the Mississippi River. White Pine wood is light, soft, and not very strong, with a light brown color that is frequently stained with red.
It is easily worked and is made into lumber, shingles, and laths, which are utilized in construction applications such as cabinet fabrication, building interior finishes, and wooden goods.
3. Norway Pine
- Common Name: Norway Pine (Red Pine)
- Scientific Name: Pinus resinosa
- Mature Height: Up to 100 feet
- Native/Non-Native: Native to Minnesota
- Flowers/Cones: Cone-shaped seed pods
- Uses: Construction of bridges, buildings and for pilings.
Among all the native pine trees in Minnesota, Norway Pine is very special because they are the State Tree of Minnesota. It’s a massive tree that may grow up to 100 feet tall and has a circumference of 30 to 40 inches.
The trunk is straight, and mature trees have a beautiful open, rounded head. The tree’s reddish-brown bark, which becomes separated into big plates as it ages, is one of its distinguishing traits.
The dark green leaves of the tree grow in clusters of two, and each leaf can range in length from 0.4 to 6 inches. Its fruit is a cone that is about 2 inches long and light brown before becoming gray.
The thin, slightly concave cone scales are resin-free and lack spines and prickles. The cones mature in approximately two years, and the seeds, which are small and dark or mottled brown, are extensively dispersed by the wind the following spring or summer.
Norway Pine is a Minnesota native that can be found in pure stands throughout the state’s northern and northeastern districts. Because of its overall resistance to disease and insect attack, white pine is frequently recommended for replacement. The tree grows quickly, similar to white pine, and prefers sandy loam or dry, rocky ridges.
Norway Pine wood is pale red with thin, nearly white sapwood. It is a harder, coarser-grained, medium-heavy wood that is more difficult to work with than white pine.
It is frequently used to construct bridges, buildings, and pilings. Because of its many benefits, Norway Pine has become a popular choice for forest planting, making it an important tree for Minnesota’s ecosystem.
Pine Trees In Minnesota – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
In this section, I will be answering some of the most commonly asked questions related to pine trees in Minnesota.
Are there pine trees in Minnesota?
Even though pine trees are not as common in Minnesota as in other states, the state has its share of native pine trees. These include Jack Pine, White Pine, and Norway Pine.
What is the most common pine tree in Minnesota?
Among all the native pine trees in Minnesota, Jack Pine is the most commonly found variety. Jack Pine is native to the state and well suited for the northern climatic conditions.
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Sources
The Regional Gardening team makes sure that the information in our articles is accurate by only using sources that are known to be trustworthy. Some of these sources are peer-reviewed journals from government agencies, well-known universities, and scientific research organizations.
- Minnesota’s Native Trees, Department Of Natural Sciences, Minnesota State.
- Forestry Division, Minnesota State.
- Yard And Garden, University Of Minnesota Extension
- Native Plants, University Of Minnesota Extension
- Select Trees And Shrubs For Minnesota Landscapes, University Of Minnesota Extension
- Trees and shrubs for pollinators, University Of Minnesota Extension
- Department Of Agriculture, Minnesota State.
