Conifer. Second growth eastern white pine trees are typically 80 feet to 110 feet tall. with trunk diameters of 2 feet to 4 feet. Eastern white pine is the largest of the northeastern conifers. Old growth pine trees can exceed 200 feet in height with trunks 9 feet in diameter. The two largest eastern white pines are located in Marqquette, Michigan. The tallest is 201 feet high. The broadest has a trunk circumference of 202 inches and a branch spread of 64 feet!
A very large tree with relatively few horizontal big limbs, the Eastern white pine is one of the tallest timber trees in the Northeast. The trees grow in large pure stands. The wood is light, soft, straight grained and with very uniform texture. It is not as resinous as other pine woods. It is easily kiln-dried with small shrinkage. The color of the wood is white to pale yellow with a reddish tinge. It darkens with age and air exposure eventually turning to a deep orange color, hence it`s nick name "pumpkin pine."
Eastern white pine has been intimately associated with New England since the Pilgrims landed in 1620 . Practically all of this pine is converted into lumber. Once used as a seemingly endless supply of timber for the construction of houses, barns and stables, its many fine characteristics soon became apparent.
It works very well and is easily shaped with hand and power tools. This wood accepts many types of glue well, making for tight bonding. Its paint holding capacity is superior. It has excellent nail and screw holding capacity. The wood seldom checks or splits when all variety of fasteners are applied.
Used for centuries in New England`s wooden buildings, this native specie remains in demand. Customers are attracted to it for its traditional and historic uses in home interiors for wide board flooring, exposed beams and knotty pine panels. Its versatility and variety of application is hard to beat. It is affordable and readily available.
Historically Eastern white pine was used for masts of ships and wooden boat building. In the 17th and 18th centuries virtually every building erected by Colonial Americans was constructed with Eastern white pine... inside and out. Our familiar and distinctive New England architecture owes its character to this abundant and versatile wood.
Today it is used in vast quantities for construction and home building: posts, beams, studding, wide board flooring, sash, doors, trim, interior moldings and paneling. It is used as the secondary wood in the manufacturing of furniture together with the expensive primary hardwoods. The highest grade lumber goes into patterns for casting. The lower grades are used for containers and packaging application. In between are endless other uses some of which are: toys, caskets and burial boxes, shade and map rollers, dairy and poultry supplies.