Red Pine — Pinus resinosa
Overview: Durable, straight-trunked two-needle pine with a tall, formal habit and distinctive reddish, plate-like bark with age. Excels on dry, sandy, acidic soils; widely used for windbreaks, groves, and reforestation.
Size & habit: Typically 50–80′ tall × 20–35′ wide (larger with age). Strong single leader; tiers of stiff, horizontal branches; crown becomes broad-oval in maturity.
Growth rate: Moderate to fast when young (≈12–24″ per year on good sites), slowing with age; long-lived.
Hardiness: USDA Zones 2–6.
Light: Full sun only (very shade-intolerant).
Soil & water: Performs best on well-drained, acidic sands or sandy loams; tolerates low fertility and periodic drought once established. Avoid high-pH, chronically wet, or compacted soils. Low tolerance to road-salt soils.
Foliage, cones & bark:
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Needles: In pairs, 4–6″ long, stiff, dark green; snap cleanly when bent.
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Cones: Ovoid, 1½–2½”, light brown, generally unarmed (no sharp prickles).
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Bark: Orange-red to reddish-brown plates on older trunks; gray-brown on young trees.
Tolerance / concerns:
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Tolerant: Cold, wind, drought (after establishment), and poor sandy soils.
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Sensitive: Urban pollution, high pH, and soil salt.
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Pests/diseases: Scleroderris (Gremmeniella) shoot blight, Diplodia tip blight on stressed trees; red pine scale, sawflies, and spider mites in hot, dry spells. Maintain vigor and sun/airflow.
Pruning: Minimal. Maintain a single leader; remove dead or crossed wood after candle elongation. Optional candle pinching in late spring for denser form. Do not top.
Landscape uses: Windbreaks/shelterbelts, naturalized groves, large-scale screening on sandy sites, reclamation/erosion control, and tall, formal specimens.
Spacing (on-center):
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Single-row windbreak/screen: 12–16 ft
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Dense screen: 10–12 ft
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Multiple rows: stagger rows 18–24 ft apart
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Specimen/grove: allow 15–25 ft
Planting tip: Set the root flare at or slightly above grade; apply a 2–3″ mulch ring (off the trunk). Water deeply but infrequently during the first 2–3 seasons, then allow the tree to rely on natural rainfall—this species prefers lean, well-drained conditions over constant irrigation.
