For centuries, people have used the white pine to decorate home and business interiors because of their ornamental needles and attractively narrow-shaped cones. Though nearly without scent, this species of pine holds its needles well for long-lasting and colorful bows even when harvested. Easy to grow and train by simple trimming, white pines that also make excellent Christmas trees are now popularly grown for selling during the Christmas season.
A Little History of these Grand Trees
The trees naturalized in the British Isles and were given the name "Weymouth Pine" because George Weymouth introduced them in England during the early 1600s. However, they originated in the northeastern part of the North American continent and were long known by the name "Tree of Peace" by the Iroquois nation. These trees were beloved in the early history of the colonies as well as today. In the United States, white pines are the state trees for Maine and Michigan. The flag of the state of Vermont bears an image of one of these trees because white pines were symbols of Vermont when it was a republic. In Canada, the Eastern white species of pine was chosen as Ontario's official provincial tree.
What Makes White Pines so Special
While these trees prefer weather that is humid and cool as well as soil that is well-drained, white pines will grow on cliffs and rocky hills as well as in marshlands. Like teeth, the long needles of white pines have an exotic look. Their vibrant green and silvery needles grow as long as five inches. Eastern white pines are naturally fire resistant as well as decorative. Through the years and into the present, nurseries have had much success with selling white pines as ornamental trees because they are beautiful and easy to grow, and many growers find they are perfect for cultivating and trimming in the traditional conical shape for the Christmas season.
Superb Species to Use at Christmastime
With their flexible and silver-green needles, Eastern white pines are often chosen by Christmas farms. To reach an average height of six feet, white pine Christmas trees take six to eight years of growing time depending on the conditions. Besides the trimmed and conical-shaped traditional trees, branches can be sold. Bows of this pine species are ideal for making decorative, fresh and long-lasting wreaths and garlands. The Eastern white pines are superb choices for Christmastime.