Red Pine
Quick Facts & Botanical Stats
Species Overview
Red Pine is a straight-growing conifer named for its distinctive flaky, reddish-brown bark.
Physical Appearance & Anatomy
Tall, clean trunk topped with an oval crown of dark green needles in pairs of two.
Habitat & Growth Behavior
Requires full sunlight and dry, well-draining sandy or gravelly soils.
Ecological Role & Symbioses
Seeds feed red squirrels, red crossbills, and small mammals.
Reproduction, Lifecycle & Propagation
Produces small, egg-shaped cones that drop mature seeds in autumn.
Conservation Status & Environmental Threats
Abundant and widely managed for sustainable timber.
Interesting Fun Facts
- Its straight, strong trunks were historically prized for telephone poles and ship masts.
- Needles snap cleanly in half when bent, a classic test to distinguish it from other pines.
Related Plants
Coast Redwood
EndangeredWhat is a Coast Redwood? Sequoia sempervirens, the coast redwood, is a massive coniferous evergreen tree belonging to the Cupressaceae family. It is the tallest living tree species on Earth, reaching heights of over 115 meters (377 feet). Restricted to a narrow coastal strip in California and Oregon, redwoods are ancient giants that can live for over 2,000 years. They form unique ecosystems characterized by thick bark, massive carbon storage, and a reliance on coastal fog.
Great Basin Bristlecone Pine
Least ConcernWhat is a bristlecone pine? The Great Basin bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva) is an extremely long-lived coniferous tree native to the high-altitude mountain ranges of the American Southwest. It is globally famous as the oldest known non-clonal living organism on Earth, with individual trees documented to be over 4,800 years old. Growing in harsh, wind-swept, alpine conditions where other plants cannot survive, these trees grow incredibly slowly, developing dense, resinous wood that resists decay.