Today's post is about an Idaho state symbol that is so useful, you probably have one of its products in your kitchen cupboard right now. The western white pine is an important tree for the timber industry. It's a durable, close-grained tree, that is uniform in texture.
White pine is lightweight, seasons without warping, takes nails without splitting, and saws easily. That makes it a terrific tree for door and window frames, cabinets, and paneling. Oh yes, about the white pine that's in your cupboard right now--kitchen matches.
The western white pine does best in a cool and dry climate. Although it can grow at sea level, it prefers elevations of 2500 to 6000 feet. In Idaho, it grows mostly in the panhandle. A mature tree typically gets to be about 100 feet high.
A gregarious tree, the western white pine seems to prefer mixing with other common evergreens rather than in large stands of its own. One plant it would be better off not mixing with is the currant. A fungus called pine blister rust kills the pine, but it's only found where currants or gooseberries also grow.
The western white pine was named the state tr ee of Idaho by the 1935 legislature
The photo below is on display at the Museum of Northern Idaho in Coeur d’Alene. It’s labeled as the “Largest Known White Pine.” How large? It was 207 feet tall and its diameter was 6-feet 7-inches. It scaled at 29,800 board feet measure. The rings counted out at 425, so it was 425 years old when cut down in 1912. The live tree was located seven miles northwest of Bovill.
White pine is lightweight, seasons without warping, takes nails without splitting, and saws easily. That makes it a terrific tree for door and window frames, cabinets, and paneling. Oh yes, about the white pine that's in your cupboard right now--kitchen matches.
The western white pine does best in a cool and dry climate. Although it can grow at sea level, it prefers elevations of 2500 to 6000 feet. In Idaho, it grows mostly in the panhandle. A mature tree typically gets to be about 100 feet high.
A gregarious tree, the western white pine seems to prefer mixing with other common evergreens rather than in large stands of its own. One plant it would be better off not mixing with is the currant. A fungus called pine blister rust kills the pine, but it's only found where currants or gooseberries also grow.
The western white pine was named the state tr ee of Idaho by the 1935 legislature
The photo below is on display at the Museum of Northern Idaho in Coeur d’Alene. It’s labeled as the “Largest Known White Pine.” How large? It was 207 feet tall and its diameter was 6-feet 7-inches. It scaled at 29,800 board feet measure. The rings counted out at 425, so it was 425 years old when cut down in 1912. The live tree was located seven miles northwest of Bovill.
