How To Identify Pine

Pine is an evergreen tree, present throughout the world and with plenty of uses. Identifying the different species of pine can help you.

Here are some tips of identifying pine:

    Look for needle-type leaves. If you've seen a Christmas trees, you know the leaves are made up of needles protruding from a single stalk.
    Count the number of needles per bundle. All pine trees can be categorized by the number of needles they grow per bundle. They can be two, three, four or five needles per bundle. Those with single needles can be categorized as spruce or fir. You can also look at the length of the needles: the Longleaf Pine grows the longest needles in groups of three, reaching up to eighteen inches.
    Inspect the pine cone shape and size. Pine cones contain the seeds of the trees. You can pick up these cones around a tree or climb up to pick a fresh one.
    Determine the location where the pine is growing. Pine trees can be further limited in the area they occupy around the world.
    Establish the height of the pine. The Sugar Pine is the largest of its kind, growing up to sixty one meters in height. Other pines have the range of height upon maturity that aids in identifying them. Use rough measurements and trigonometry to establish a particular tree’s height.

    Smell the bark. Notable for creating a fresh pine scent that’s commonly marketed among air fresheners, some pines carry odors distinctly their own. For example, the Ponderosa Pine, usually found in western North America, has a bark with the fragrance of vanilla.
    Bring a pine tree reference book in your travels. These reference books should contain images of different pine trees, their needles and cones. While they can be hefty, the comprehensive one will contain most types of pines. You can also try an electronic book reader that displays the same information in digital form, which makes for a lighter load.
    Consult a pine expert from a forestry institute. Major forests have forestry stations manned by rangers, who are versed in the different types of pine trees as well as other plants in the region. Look for such stations while roaming the forest and talk to the personnel for assistance in identification. Some field researchers can also help you determine the type to pine tree you're focusing on.
    Consult the Web. The Web has plenty of sites which are dedicated to pine trees and their characteristics. There are also forums visited by hobbyists and experts where you can consult regarding particular trees. Upload images of the tree, cone and leaves and be ready to describe the location where you found it. These pine lovers can readily identify pine types or point you in the right direction for proper identification.


Pine trees can be a source of food, lumber, fuel, resin or decoration. Each type contains particular characteristics that make it preferable for some tasks, so make sure to identify the pine correctly.