| Kentucky has four native pine species the Virginia Pine, the Eastern White Pine, the Yellow Pine, and the Pitch Pine.. |
Virginia Pine (Pinus Virginiana)
The Virginia Pine typically have branches coming off its main trunk, often with some dead branches starting at the bottom of the tree. It has short twisted needles in bundles of two each 1-1/2 to 3 inches long. It usually has many small pine cones which can stay on the tree for years even after the cones have dropped their seeds. This pine is used for lumber, making plywood, and even for Christmas Trees.
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Virginia Pine
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Virginia Pine Cone & Needles
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The tree can be one of the first to establish itself in poor soil areas like eroded hillsides, rocky areas, and cleared forests. Once established it holds any available soil and adds to the humus so that other trees can then grow in the area. This pine can reach heights over 60 feet but more often they are smaller appearing as scrubby trees in less hospitable areas. Because of its shallow root system and soft wood, it is susceptible to branches breaking and even tipping over in inclement weather. |
Eastern White Pine (Pinus Strobus) - Is also known as the White Pine, Northern White Pine, Weymouth Pine, and Soft Pine. It originally covered much of Northeastern US but only about 1% of the old growth forest remain after extensive logging. It has five needles per bundle, each 3 to 5 inches long. The cones are slender and long reaching a up to 6 inches in length. They are long lived trees commonly living over 200 years while some have approached 500 years in age. It is also the tallest tree in Eastern North America reaching heights over 200 feet.
White Pine has been grown for lumber , used for herbal tea, it’s pine tar processed to make turpentine, and its sap used by native americans to make waterproof basket pails, and boats. The inner bark wet pulp or pine tar has also been used on wounds to prevent infection |
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White Pine
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White Pine Cone & Needles
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| Yellow Pine (Pinus Echinata) - The Yellow Pine has several common names Shortleaf, Southern Yellow, Arkansas Soft Pine, Oldfield, and Shortstraw. This Pine is not as common in Kentucky because of past extensive logging. Yellow pine is used for lumber, and to make plywood. The Yellow Pine prefers acetic soil and is found mostly in the Eastern Mountain part of the state where it grows on the sandy slopes and valleys and can reach heights over 100 feet. The Yellow Pine has egg shaped pine cones that grow up to 2 ½ inches in length. It needles usually grow together in bundles of two or three and can reach up to 5 inches long. The length of the needles makes one wonder how it ever got some of its common names like Shortleaf or Shortstraw. |
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Yellow Pine
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Yellow Pine Cone & Needles
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Pitch Pine (Pinus rigida) - The Pitch pine grows mostly in Eastern and Southeastern part of the state. It grows to between 50 to 80 feet. The needles are in bundles of 3, each needle being about 3 to 5 inches long with a yellowish green color. The cones are 2 to 3.5 inches in length and have prickles on each scale. Like the Virginia pine the cones can stay on the tree for years before they release. Native Americans used pitch pine for ailments, cuts, and burns. They also used the wood in canoe making. The pitch pine is now used to make turpentine, which is distilled from the tree resin. It's also used for making pulpwood, and for reforestation of dry sandy areas.
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Pitch Pine
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Pitch Pine Cone & Needles
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| You are looking for a small camouflaged container hidden in a nice stand of pines Near Lake Nevin. |
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This cache placement has been approved by Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest.
For more information about Bernheim Arboretum And Research Forest including current operating hours. There is no admission fee at Bernheim on Monday through Friday. On Saturday & Sunday there is a $5 fee per passenger car, or motorcycle. |