Western White Pine

Pinus monticola

Pinaceae

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Description

The western white pine is a magnificent evergreen tree growing up to 70 meters tall with large cones that can get as big as 32 cm long and 4 cm wide. Like all members of the white pine group, they have a bundle of five needles (leaves) which are bluish-green in colour with a whitish tinge at times. The cones can have a reddish-purple hue to them when they are young, they typically are resinous. Some white pine trees have been known to grow for over 400 years. The oldest being 615 years which was reported by Harlow and Harrar in 1969.

Height 30-70 m

Width 1-6 m

Diameter 1-2.5 m (Trunk)

Leaves (needles) 5-13 cm

Catkins (N/A)

Cones 12-32 cm long, 3-4 cm wide

Seeds 4-7 mm long, the wing is 15-22 mm long

Distribution & Habitat

Western white pine can be found growing throughout western North America primarily in cordilleran regions on moist valleys and on gentle northern slopes. Western white pine thrives in a variety of environments, ranging from dry, sandy or rocky soils. It does best in sites rich in nutrients and that is well-drained with a pH of 5.5.

Elevation 1000-3000 m

Soil sandy, rocky, moist, nutrient rich

pH 5.5

Zones 1-4

Sun full to partial

Uses & Benefits

The western white pine has many benefits and uses, the turpentine obtained from the resin is an antiseptic, rubefacient, diuretic, and a vermifuge. It is very beneficial in the treatment of a variety of skin conditions including wounds, sores, burns, and boils. It is also very beneficial to the repository system, it helps with colds, flues, coughs, influenza, and TB. An infusion of the bark can be used as a blood purifier and in the treatment of stomach disorders and tuberculosis. Young shoots can be used as a soak for the treatment of rheumatism. A decoction of the bark can be used as a wash on cuts and sores. The seeds are edible either cooked or raw, the inner bark can be eaten raw, cooked or dried and made into a powder and then used as a thicker. The sap (resin) works great as a fire starter it can also be made into a salve, glue, torches, and soap yes soap.

Parts used:

Bark
Needles
Sap
Seeds

One can also use western white pine to treat:

Colds
Coughs
Influenza
Tuberculosis
Burns
Boils
Sores

Ways to use western white pine:

Poultice
Salve
Cream
Tea
Decoction
Fire Starter

Calvin De Jong

Content Writer/Photographer

I am a naturalist from the Okanagan. My passions are taken photos of nature and foraging all its wonders.