Identifying pines

Some native pines of the United States, listed by the number of needles per bundle

One of the first steps in identifying pine trees is counting the number of needles per bundle. Then, notice the average length of the needles. Look at the type of bark the tree has. Pay attention to the size and shape of the pine cones on or beneath the tree. Observe the height and general shape of the tree. Finally, consider the location in which the tree is growing. These are clues that you can take to a field guide to help identify the tree.

Here are a few of the native pines of the United States, listed by the number of needles per bundle they have. I've also noted their natural range (in very general terms). Their Latin names are linked to a tree identification page at the Virginia Tech Dendrology website.

Two needles per bundle:

Pinus clausa -- Sand pine (Florida, needles 2 to 3 inches long)

Pinus contorta -- Lodgepole pine (Northwestern U.S., needles 1-1/2 to 3 inches long)

Pinus echinata -- Shortleaf pine (Southeastern U.S., bundles of either 2 or 3 needles on the same branch, needles 3 to 5 inches long, sometimes called "yellow pine")

Pinus edulis -- Pinyon pine (Southwestern U.S., needles 1 to 2 inches long)

Pinus elliottii -- Slash pine (Gulf coast, usually 3 needles, sometimes just 2 needles per bundle)

Pinus glabra Walt. -- Spruce pine (Gulf coast, needles 1-1/2 to 4 inches long)

Pinus jeffreyi -- Jeffrey pine, needles 5 to 11 inches long, usually 3 needles per bundle, but sometimes 2)

Pinus muricata -- Bishop pine (California coast, needles 4 to 6 inches long)

Pinus resinosa -- Red pine (Northeastern U.S., needles 4 to 6 inches long)

Pinus taeda -- Loblolly pine (Southeastern U.S., needles 6 to 9 inches long, usually 3 needles per bundle, but sometimes 2)

Pinus virginiana -- Virginia pine (Appalachian states, needles 1-1/2 to 3 inches long)

Three needles per bundle:

Pinus attenuata -- Knobcone pine (west coast, needles 3 to 7 inches long)

Pinus coulter -- Coulter pine (California, needles 8 to 12 inches long)

Pinus echinata -- Shortleaf pine (Southeastern U.S., bundles of either 2 or 3 needles on the same branch, needles 3 to 5 inches long, sometimes called "yellow pine")

Pinus elliottii -- Slash pine (Gulf coast, usually 3 needles, sometimes just 2 needles per bundle)

Pinus jeffreyi -- Jeffrey pine, (California and Oregon, needles 5 to 11 inches long, usually 3 needles per bundle, but sometimes 2)

Pinus palustris -- Longleaf pine (Southeastern U.S., needles 8 to 18 inches long)

Pinus ponderosa -- Ponderosa pine (western half of U.S., needles 5 to 10 inches long, usually 3 needles per bundle, but sometimes 2 or 4)

Pinus rigida -- Pitch pine (Appalachian states and east coast, needles 2-1/2 to 5 inches long)

Pinus serotina -- Pond pine (Southeastern Atlantic coastal states, usually 3 needles per bundle, but sometimes 4)

Pinus taeda -- Loblolly pine (Southeastern U.S., needles 6 to 9 inches long, usually 3 needles per bundle, but sometimes 2)

Four needles per bundle:

Pinus ponderosa -- Ponderosa pine (western half of U.S., needles 5 to 10 inches long, usually 3 needles per bundle, but sometimes 2 or 4)

Pinus serotina -- Pond pine (Southeastern Atlantic coastal states, usually 3 needles per bundle, but sometimes 4)

Five needles per bundle:

Pinus aristata -- Bristlecone pine (southwestern U.S. mountains, needles 1 to 1-1/2 inches long)

Pinus flexilis James -- Limber pine (western half of U.S., needles 2-1/2 to 4 inches long)

Pinus lambertiana -- Sugar pine (west coast, needles 2 to 4 inches long)

Pinus monticola -- Western white pine (western states, needles 2 to 4 inches long)

Pinus strobiformis -- Southwestern white pine (Arizona and New Mexico, needles 2 to 3 inches long)

Pinus strobus -- Eastern white pine (Appalachian states and northeast U.S, needles 3 to 5 inches long)

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