There are thirty-five varieties of pine trees native to North America. They are classified as evergreen, meaning they keep their foliage through the winter; the foliage being long, needle-like leaves. The female flowers of the pine are called the pine cones.

In general, they are a very hardy, slow-growing tree, resistant to drought and will thrive in poor, sandy soil. The average height for a pine is forty to sixty feet, although there are some that reach the lofty heights of seventy to eighty feet (Norway Pine and Ponderosa Pine, respectively), and the Western White Pine which may reach one-hundred and ten feet.

The Bristlecone Pine is a slow-growing pine that usually only grows to about twenty-feet, but there are some trees that are over 4,000 years old. The oldest known Bristlecone Pine is called Methuselah, and is at least 4,700 years old.

Pines are quite common in North America, the farther north you travel, the more abundant they become. Many are used as windbreaks, and some are good for landscaping. Some varieties, such as the Bristlecone Pine and the Lace Bark Pine are good for the art of Bonsai tree shaping.

One of the most beautiful pines is the Mexican Pine; it has long, graceful foliage and resembles a weeping willow, in fact, it is also known as the Willow Pine.

If you are looking for a specific shape, height, spread or needle for your yard or landscaping needs, you have a wide variety to choose from. From twenty to over one-hundred feet in height, short needled to willowy, irregular shape to pyramidal, the pine has a great variety of species to choose from.

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