western white pine

The western white pine (Pinus monticola) is a type of white pine characterized by stout, blue-green needles and long-stalked cones. Pines, in general, are evergreen conifers native to northern temperate regions and are vital to various ecosystems, providing habitat and food for wildlife. Economically, pines are significant for their timber, used in construction and paper production, as well as for turpentine and rosin.12

There are two main categories of pines: soft pines and hard pines. Soft pines, like the eastern white pine (Pinus strobus), have softer timber and needles typically in bundles of five. Hard pines have denser wood and needles in bundles of two or three. The western white pine (Pinus monticola) is found in the mountain forests of the northwestern United States and British Columbia and is extensively used for lumber.23