There’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that a beautiful pine tree can lend any outdoor area some ambiance. Pines are large and very attractive trees that consist of parts you can do a lot with, giving them not only beauty, but a lot of importance and versatility as well. Like pretty much every state in the USA, Maine is home to a variety of pine trees.
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Although Maine is usually associated with cold weather, the climate is still good enough to house dozens of tree types, including the pine tree. Pine trees are evergreens that have four types of leaves, even though most people are most familiar with the needle type. Maine also has 80% of its land forested, which means you can find trees that include maple, birch, oak, and beech in the state of Maine, to name a few.
With 32 state parks and the only national park in the New England area, Maine provides a lot of opportunities to view tons of trees of all types and sizes. Whether you’re doing research or you’re just curious about the types of pine trees in the state of Maine, below is some information that you’re likely looking for.
1. Eastern White Pine (pinus strobus L.)
Also called the Weymouth pine or soft pine, the Eastern white pine can get up to 188 feet high or more, although the average is around 160 feet. In fact, this tree is the tallest tree in the eastern part of North America. They have diameters that get from three to five feet, and the wood is a very useful commodity in this country.
Some of the many uses for the wood of the Eastern white pine include lumber for the construction industry, masts for ships, and medicinal uses when the bark and other parts of the tree are used. Eastern white pines have needles that have more vitamin C than either lemons or oranges, which makes them very valuable indeed.
2. Pitch Pine (pinus rigida)
Growing from 20 to 100 feet high, the pitch pine’s branches are often twisted, leaving self-pruning out of the questions. They are fast-growing trees, but aren’t used much commercially because of their twisted branches and trunk. It has been used, however, for railroad ties and in the building of ships, so it does have its uses.
Pitch pines were used in the past by various tribes of Native Americans, who used it for things such as cuts, burns, and even rheumatism. It can also be used for items such as crates and paper.
3. Red Pine (pinus resinosa)
The red pine is also called the Norway pine and it grows up to 115 feet in height. The tree also has a diameter of roughly three feet. This is a tree that grows very straight and tall, giving it a regal look, and it has ovoid cones that are nearly stalkless and have no prickles. The needles are a dark yellow-green color and grow in bundles of two.
Although it looks similar to other types of pine trees, you can tell if the tree is a red pine because you can snap the needles in half when you bend them, something you can’t do in other pines.
The red pine is very common in North America, primarily in Michigan, and the New England area of Maine, Massachusetts and Connecticut to name a few.
