Western White Pine
Pinus monticola
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Basic Information
Other names
Mountain White Pine, Silver Pine
Order
Pinales
Family
Pinaceae
Size
70-190 ft
Leaf Color
Green
Leaf Complexity
Simple
Leaf Shape
Linear
Blooming Season
Spring
Bloom Color
Yellow
Attracts
Birds, Rodents
Can I eat Western White Pine?
Native American tribes used the Western White Pine for a variety of food sources. Its seeds are edible. The inner bark can be dried and ground into a powder or roasted. Young cones can be roasted and consumed as well.
Medicinal uses for Western White Pine
The turpentine obtained from the resin of all pine trees is immensely valuable antiseptic and diuretic.
Western White Pine Habitat
Western White Pine (Pinus monticola) is native to variety of mountain areas in the western North America. It thrives in well-drained soils between 2,000-9,000 ft. It requires a fair amount of water and plenty of sunshine.
Western White Pine Facts
Western White Pine (Pinus monticola) is the State Tree of Idaho. This striking evergreen with green needles in groups of five generally grows up to 150 ft. Western White Pine is an extremely important timber tree because it generally lacks large knots. It is very susceptible to White Pine Blister Rust (Cronartium ribicola), which was accidentally introduced from Europe in the early 20th century.