Pine

About the Tree 

Pines are native to most of the Northern Hemisphere. They range from the Canary Islands and
Scotland east to the Russian Far East, and the Philippines, north to Norway (Scots Pine) and
eastern Siberia (Siberian Dwarf Pine), and south to northernmost Africa, the Himalayas and
Southeast Asia.

Pines are evergreen and resinous trees, with the majority of species reaching between 15-45 m tall.
Pines are long-lived, typically reaching ages of 100 to 1,000 years, some even more. The longest-lived is the Great Basin Bristlecone Pine Pinus longaeva, one individual of which at 4,840 years old in 2008 is the oldest living organism in the world.

About the Wood

Pines are among the most commercially important of tree species, valued for their timber and wood
pulp throughout the world.

Commercial pines are grown in plantations for timber that is denser, more resinous, and therefore
more durable than spruce (Picea). Pine wood is widely used in high-value carpentry items such as
furniture, window frames, paneling and floors.

Many pine species make attractive ornamental plantings for parks and larger gardens, with a
variety of dwarf cultivars being suitable for smaller spaces. Pines are also commercially grown and
harvested for Christmas trees. Pine cones, the largest and most durable of all conifer cones are
craft favorites.