Red or Norway Pine (Pinus resinosa)

Form

Height is usually 80 to 90 feet; occasionally 120 feet tall; 2 to 3 feet in diameter; branches on mature trees form an open, rounded, picturesque crown.

Bark

Becomes divided into large, reddish brown plates as it matures, which gives trees its characteristic appearance and one of its common names, red pine.

Leaf

Needles in clusters of 2; dark green to yellow-green; 4 to 6 inches long; brittle (easily broken when doubled between the fingers); needle sheath persistent.

Fruit

Cone about 2 inches in length. The thin, slightly concave cone scales are without spines or prickles and are free from resin. Cones short stalked to nearly sessile. Like all pines, it requires 2 years for cones to mature; cones are purplish in color when ripe; seeds small, length about 1/8 inches, dark or mottled brown, winged and widely scattered by the wind.

Range

Found in pure stands in many parts of northern Wisconsin and isolated stands occur as far south as Dane County. It is usually found on sandier soils than white pine. Increasing in popularity for forest planting because of its general freedom from disease and insect attack.

Wood

Pale red with thin, nearly white sapwood; moderately hard, close grained and used mainly for pulpwood. Increasingly being used for construction lumber, pilings and pressure-treated poles.

Notes

Often called Norway pine. Red pine is a fast growing species and needs full sunlight for best growth and development.