Wood: This
species is the largest pine in the eastern US, and is used extensively as
a commercial source of timber. Wood is soft, light, straight-grained, easily
worked and shrinks very little. It is used for doors, window sash, cabinets,
interiors, cheap furniture, boxes and crates. It was formerly used for making
kitchen matches, bridge beams and shingles. When the British Crown passed
a decree reserving the largest, straightest white pines in the colonies
for use as ship masts for the Royal navy, this may have contributed to the
events leading to the Revolutionary War.
Wildlife: An abundant species, the eastern white pine is very important to wildlife. The foliage and seeds are eaten by chickadees, red crossbills and other birds. Rodents eat the seeds; porcupines, beavers and hares consume the bark and twigs; and deer browse the foliage. It provides winter cover for many wildlife species.
Horticulture: This is one of our most important native pines used in landscaping. It is an attractive specimen for planting in parks, estates and on campuses. It responds well to pruning and makes an attractive sheared hedge. In Iowa, it is popular for windbreaks, reforestation and wildlife plantings as it transplants well and is fast-growing. 'Fastigiata' is columnar with ascending branches; 'Prostrata' is a rounded dwarf to 8 feet tall; and 'Pendula' develops low, sweeping branches.
