7 Common Pine Trees In Ohio (Pictures & Identification)
Pine trees are widespread in Ohio, and their evergreen needles add a welcome pop of color to the state’s bleak winter scenery. But did you know that not all pine trees are the same? In fact, Ohio is home to a variety of different pine species, each with its unique characteristics and uses.
In this article, we’ll explore seven of the most common pine trees in Ohio, from the towering Eastern White Pine to the hardy Scots Pine. We’ll delve into their physical features, growth habits, and preferred habitats, as well as their ecological and economic significance.
So sit back, grab a cup of hot cocoa, and let’s get started.
1. Red Pine
- Common Name: Red Pine
- Scientific Name: Pinus resinosa
- Mature Height: 40–80′ (12–24.5 m)
- Native/Non-Native: Non-Native
- Flowers/Cones: Cones
Red Pine, commonly known as Pinus resinosa, is a non-native tree found in the United States. Despite being a non-native species, red pine trees are one of the most commonly found pine trees in Ohio.
This tree can grow to be 40-80 feet tall, with a single straight trunk and a broad circular crown. Red Pine needles are grouped with two needles per cluster and can grow to be 4-6 inches long. The needles are dark green, straight, and fragile, becoming pointy when bent and breaking.
The tree’s bark is reddish-brown in hue, with many flat scales or plates covering it. When mature, the green cones turn brown and can grow up to 2-3 inches long, containing several little brown nutlets.
The Red Pine is frequently planted in large numbers or sold as a Christmas tree. Every 4-7 years, a fire is required to expose mineral soils for seeds to sprout and produce substantial seed yields. The scaly bark slips off the adult tree, which is dispersed at its base like jigsaw puzzle pieces. Around the trunk, branches grow in whorls.
The cones remain on the tree for several years, making seed delivery easier. The tree is frequently confused with the Austrian Pine, which has needles that are as long as those of the Red Pine but will bend without breaking cleanly.
The Red Pine’s reddish bark is one of its most striking characteristics. Despite its non-native status, the tree has been around for 150-200 years.
The tree grows best in dry sandy soils and in pure stands in the sun. Red Pine is utilized in reforestation efforts. Its needles and resin can be utilized to make essential oils and other items.
2. Shortleaf Pine
- Common Name: Shortleaf Pine
- Scientific Name: Pinus echinata
- Mature Height: 70-100 feet
- Native/Non-Native: Native
- Flowers/Cones: Cones
- Uses: Lumber, millwork, veneer, pulpwood, flooring, and turpentine
The Shortleaf Pine is a huge tree that can grow to 100 feet tall and has a single straight trunk. Its branches spread horizontally, and the lower branches may disappear as the tree ages, giving the tree a rounded crown.
Shortleaf pine trees are the most commonly found native pine trees in Ohio. Their needles are clustered, with two or three needles per cluster, and each needle is soft, flexible, slender, and pointed.
Shortleaf Pine bark is reddish-brown with big, uneven flat scales, giving the tree a distinct feel. The rectangular yellowish-green cones of this tree grow to a light brown tint. These cones are 112-212 inches long, with a little prickle at the tip and a short stem.
The Shortleaf Pine is one of the fastest-growing pines and may quickly recover itself following fires or cutting. It has a firm, sturdy, yellow-to-orange wood and is commonly found in pure stands or alongside other pines.
This tree is also widely utilized in the production of timber, millwork, veneer, pulpwood, and flooring. The resin of the Shortleaf Pine is used to make turpentine.
Shortleaf Pine seeds resemble little maple seeds and can be carried by the wind up to a quarter-mile from the cone. This tree is native to more than 20 states in the southeastern United States and can attain cone-bearing maturity at the age of 20-30 years.
3. Virginia Pine
- Common Name: Virginia Pine
- Scientific Name: Pinus virginiana
- Mature Height: 30-60 feet
- Native/Non-Native: Native
- Flowers/Cones: Cones
- Uses: Christmas tree, pulpwood, firewood, railroad ties
Another commonly found pine tree in Ohio and surrounding states, Virginia Pine is a lovely tree that people enjoy using as a Christmas tree. These medium-sized trees have semi-straight stems with horizontal branches. The distinctive cones of these trees may catch the attention of children.
When mature, the cones begin green and turn reddish-brown. They are egg-shaped, tapering near the top, and range in length from 1.5 to 2.75 inches. A ridge and a long prickle distinguish cone scales. These cones, unlike those of other trees, remain on the tree for many years.
You can smell the wonderful pine scent of a Virginia Pine tree if you approach close enough. The needles are 1.5-3 inches long and appear in groups of two. They are soft, flexible, and twisted somewhat. When crushed, these needles emit a pungent aroma and are light to dull green in color.
Virginia Pine is native to Ohio, however, it prefers sandy soils, clay, and well-drained areas to thrive. As a result, it is frequently found in old fields and abandoned farms with poor soils.
Even though it is also known as Poverty Pine or Scrub Pine, it is an important tree that aids in the reforestation of places with weak or eroding soils. It is also utilized in the production of pulpwood, firewood, and railroad ties.
Even though it is not often employed in the commercial lumber sector, it is a favorite of woodpeckers, which use the dead trunks for nesting chambers. Finally, in the winter, deer devour the branches of young Virginia Pine trees.
4. Scots Pine
- Common Name: Scots Pine
- Scientific Name: Pinus sylvestris
- Mature Height: 30-80 feet
- Native/Non-Native: Non-native
- Flowers/Cones: Clusters of ovate cones
The Scotch Pine trees are among the commonly found non-native pine trees in Ohio. It is a magnificent tree that has spread all over the world.
It grows tall and straight in Europe, but rarely has a straight trunk in North America, where it was imported roughly 100-150 years ago. This is due to the seed source chosen by early colonizers, who favored cones from trees with crooked trunks, which were easier to collect for seeds. Growing circumstances, insect pests, and diseases all contribute to the trunk’s crookedness.
The tree possesses distinguishing traits that allow it to be identified. For example, each needle cluster contains only two stiff, twisted, and pointed needles. Upper branch bark is frequently papery and bright orange, whereas lower branch bark is flaky and orange-brown.
The cones are oval and cluster in groups of 2-3. They are 1-2.5 inches long and have short stems. When clusters of cones fall from the tree, they frequently point back up the limb, allowing the tree to be identified in another way.
Because of its iconic conical shape, Scotch Pine is widely planted as a Christmas tree. It is, nevertheless, planted in parks, yards, and as shelterbelts.
It prefers well-drained sandy soil and direct sunlight. Although it is not indigenous to North America, it has had a tremendous impact in the areas where it has been introduced. It is also known as Scots Pine and is found all over the world.
5. Austrian Pine
- Common Name: Austrian Pine
- Scientific Name: Pinus nigra
- Mature Height: 40-60 feet (12-18 meters)
- Native/Non-Native: Non-native, introduced from southern Europe
- Flowers/Cones: Woody cones, ovate, 1-3 inches (2.5-7.5 cm) long
- Uses: Planted in parks, along roads, as windbreaks, and wildlife shelterbelts
Austrian Pine is a lovely and useful tree that may be found in parks and along roadsides. Its needles are twisted and finely pointed, and they are grouped, with two needles per cluster. When bent, the needles are dark green and do not break cleanly.
The tree has a broad spherical crown and big, open horizontal branches, giving it an uneven appearance. The bark is gray-brown, and the branches are scaly and reddish.
One of the reasons Austrian Pine is so popular is because of its woody cones, which are green while young and turn brown when old. The cones are oval, with each cone scale ending in a sharp tip.
This tree is not native to North America, having been transplanted from southern Europe more than a century ago. It grows well in a wide range of soils, in both sun and shade and is frequently used as a windbreak and to offer shelter for wildlife.
Austrian Pine may be produced from seed and thrives in a variety of soil conditions. It can withstand salt spray, air pollution, and dry soils, making it an excellent tree for growing in metropolitan areas.
It was the first tree species planted at the Dust Bowl Shelterbelt Project’s dedication in 1935. Although it is frequently confused with Red Pine, its distinctive needles allow it to be distinguished.
6. Eastern White Pine
- Common Name: Eastern White Pine
- Scientific Name: Pinus strobus
- Mature Height: 70–100′ (21–30.5 m)
- Native/Non-Native: Native
- Flowers/Cones: Cones
Eastern White Pine trees are the tallest pine trees in Ohio. It is a stately evergreen tree th native to the many states in the United States that can grow up to 100 feet tall. The needles on the tree are soft and flexible, clustered in clusters of five. Each needle has a triangular cross-section and may reach a length of 5 inches.
When young, Eastern White Pine has smooth gray to brown bark, but as it ages, the bark cracks into big broad scales divided by deep furrows.
The tree produces drooping, curving cones that can reach a length of 8 inches. When young, these cones are green, but as they age, they turn brown.
Each cone scale has a resin-coated sharp white tip. As long as it is exposed to sunlight, Eastern White Pine may grow in a wide range of soils, from dry and sandy to lush upland areas.
Eastern White Pine is well-known for its relevance in construction; it was widely employed in buildings in many large eastern U.S. cities until roughly 1890 due to its straight-grained and lightweight wood.
The tree was also a popular nesting location for Bald Eagles. The Eastern White Pine, on the other hand, is vulnerable to white pine blister rust, a fungus that eventually girdles the trunk and kills the tree.
Despite the hurdles, restoration attempts to reintroduce this species are underway in several sections of the country. Eastern White Pine is also planted in parks and yards, where it serves as an attractive and long-lasting addition to the landscape.
7. Pitch Pine
- Common Name: Pitch Pine
- Scientific Name: Pinus rigida
- Mature Height: 50-70 feet
- Native/Non-Native: Native
- Flowers/Cones: Cones
- Uses: Fuel, charcoal production
Pitch pines are another commonly found native pine tree in Ohio. They are mostly seen in the south-central and southeastern United States.
The trees grow slowly at first, but once mature, they can reach astonishing heights of up to 70 feet. Pitch pine needles are yellow-green in hue and frequently twisted. They grow in three-needle clusters, and each needle can grow to be three to five inches long.
The pitch pine cones are a distinctive characteristic that can remain unopened on the tree for many years. These cones are compact and egg-shaped, ranging in size from 134 to 234 inches.
They have a strong, bent spine and are coated in thin flat scales. When the cones open, they release a slew of winged triangular seeds that aid in the colonization of previously burned soils. Local bird species such as Pine Warblers, Pine Grosbeaks, and Chickadees rely on the pitch pine cones for sustenance.
Despite its soft and knotty light brown wood, pitch pine is frequently utilized for fuel and charcoal manufacture due to its resistance to decay. Because of its high resin content, it has also been used in the past to produce turpentine and tar.
Pitch pines are noted for growing in nutrient-depleted soils and dry areas, and they are frequently found on steep slopes and hills. In reality, they are utilized for replanting in regions where other trees cannot thrive or where the soil is exhausted.
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Common Pine Trees In Ohio – 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.
- Trees Of Ohio, Division Of Wildlife
- Trees Of Ohio Field Guide, Book by Stan Tekiela
- Ohio Trees, OSU Extension Publications
- Native Plant Lists, Ohio Department Of Natural Resources
- Ohio Department Of Agriculture
- Gardening, The Ohio State University
