Eastern White Pine is a large pine with 5 leaves in a fascicle. The pliable leaves are bluish-green and have a white stripe running down their length.

Carroll Co., VA 4/25/08.

Carroll Co., VA 4/25/08.

Carroll Co., VA 5/11/09.

This pine is common in the Mountains and adjacent Piedmont of North Carolina and frequently planted elsewhere.

Carroll Co., VA 5/11/09.

The cones are elongate and lack prickles.

Carroll Co., VA 4/25/08.

There is also a relict native population at the White Pines Natural Area in Chatham and Lee Counties at the confluence of the Deep and Rocky Rivers — hanging on because of the cool microclimate.

Eastern White Pine is also weakly escaping from cultivation in a few areas, such as Hill Forest in northern Durham County. The photo at left is of a young escapee in Hill Forest.

Unlike the bark of our other pines, the dark gray-brown bark of E. White Pine is smooth on small and medium-sized trees.

White Pines Preserve, Chatham Co., NC 6/18/05.

The bark of larger trees is dark brown and broken into regular plates. Remnants of old branches are retained for many years.

White Pines Preserve, Chatham Co., NC 6/18/05.

Carroll Co., VA 4/25/08.