20 Types of Pine Trees in Canada

There is nothing in this world quite like a hike or a walk in the woods. Trees spread in a canopy over your head, and leaves and pinecones decorate the ground at your feet. As you walk, you can hear the crunch of leaves underfoot like a companion talking to you on your journey. In snowy months, you note that some trees have shed their leaves, but others maintain them. There are so many trees around you – how can you know what you are looking at?

As you continue your walk, you are drawn to the aromatic smell of the conifer trees around you. The scent of pine needles is refreshing and reminds you of the holidays. Looking around, you realize that there are different-looking pine trees on either side of your path. “How many types of pine trees are there?” you wonder. “What makes a pine tree a pine tree?”

There are answers to those questions and more in this post.

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What are the different categories of trees?

All Canadian trees fall into two categories – conifer or deciduous trees. A conifer tree, also known as a needle-leaved tree or evergreen, is a tree with cone-like seeds. A deciduous tree has broad leaves which fall annually during the autumn months.

There are fewer species of conifer trees than deciduous trees, but conifers, such as pines, spruce, or junipers, are an essential part of the ecosystem. This is especially true in the Northern Hemisphere in countries like Canada.

Canada is the third most forested country in the world, with 362 million hectares of forest. In January 2021, almost 70% of Canadian trees were coniferous.

What makes conifer trees different?

Conifer trees keep their needles all year round. Conifers are part of the gymnosperm family, which means that these trees have “naked” seeds. Essentially, instead of flowering trees, conifers produce seeds in structures known as cones. Conifer trees are also resinous.

There are over 600 species of conifers that are further categorized based on their type of needle and shape of foliage.

Conifer trees are softwood, whereas most deciduous trees are hardwood. What’s the difference between softwood and hardwood trees? This is a common question for new homeowners evaluating how to construct their houses. The difference traces back to coniferous versus deciduous. Deciduous trees are mostly hardwoods as they grow more slowly and become denser than softwoods.

Hardwoods are more robust and durable but also more expensive because they grow more slowly. Softwoods are conifers! Conifers are more available and affordable, though they tend to require more upkeep over their lifespan and are thus best used indoors.

There is significant variation in the “hardness” of softwoods, however, with some softwoods displaying properties more commonly found in hardwoods. Some types of pine trees, for example, are frequently used to build furniture or even log cabins.

What are the characteristics of pine trees?

Pine trees are from the Pinaceae family and the Pinus genus. The Pinaceae family makes up about ¼ of all conifers.

Pines can be further subdivided into “hard” and “soft” pines, though both types are still considered softwood. Some hard pine species are strong and can be used in construction projects. You can tell the two types apart as hard pines have two to three needles per shoot, whereas soft pines have five.

Did you know that there are 126 species of pine trees? There is notable variation in the Pinus genus, with Ponderosa pines growing up to 200-268 feet and Siberian dwarf pines, which can grow in a pot at 3-10 feet tall.

Pine trees can be long-lived, with a typical lifespan of 100 to 1,000 years. The oldest living pine tree, named Methuselah, is 4,854 years old. Methuselah, named for the 969-year-old biblical patriarch of the same name, is a Great Basin bristlecone pine.

Pine Trees Fueled Canada’s Economic Growth

Due to their commonness, pine trees played a massive role in Canada’s economic development. Wood was the key element of Canadian trade in the nineteenth century. Canadian pine and oak trees were in high demand from the British Navy, which was fighting Napoleon in France. These were often used for naval masts.

Soon the United States also became a significant customer, using Canadian timber to fund industrialization projects, such as railways. By 1905, America accounted for greater than 50% of Canadian forest exports.

Pine was also used for pulp and paper, making it very popular. Throughout it all, pine, largely the Eastern White Pine, was the main species involved in the exports.

Unfortunately, logging led to a decline in pine trees. In Mauricie Park, located in Quebec near Trois Rivieres and the St Lawrence River, there are seven times fewer white pines than in the 19^th century. Parks Canada is using controlled, or prescribed, fire techniques to bring back the pine population and general biodiversity to the forest.

What are the most common types of pine trees in Canada?

Pine trees can be identified by their size, needles, and bark.

Some of the pine trees you can find in Canada are:

Jack Pine (Latin name: Pinus banksiana)
- Native to all Canadian provinces but Nunavut and Newfoundland. Jack pines were later introduced to Newfoundland. These pines can grow in poorer soil, making the jack pine one of the most common pines in Canada. It has two needles in each bundle and curved cones. It grows 30-50 feet or up to 15 meters.
Eastern White Pine (Latin name: Pinus strobus)
- Native to many Canadian provinces, including Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick. The Eastern White Pine is the provincial tree of Ontario. This pine is a popular choice for a Christmas tree. Its needles are in bundles of five, and cones are 8-20 centimeters long. Eastern white pines standardly grow 50-100 feet or up to 30 meters.
Limber Pine (Latin name: Pinus flexilis)
- Native to British Columbia and Alberta. This tree adapts well to different environments. It has five needles per bundle. Limber pines grow 30-60 feet or up to 19 meters tall.
Whitebark Pine (Latin name: Pinus albicaulis)
- Native to British Columbia and Alberta. The whitebark pine prospers at high altitudes. This pine has five needles in each bundle. Like its relative, the limber pine, it can grow 20-60 feet or up to 19 meters tall.
Ponderosa Pine (Latin name: Pinus ponderosa)
- Native to British Columbia. This is a very tall type of pine tree and can reach stunning heights of up to 268 feet or 82 meters. To get to that height, Ponderosas have thick, straight trunks that enable them to stretch to the sky. Its size makes it a popular pine for lumber. It has three, sometimes two, needles in each bundle. This pine is also known as the western yellow pine, bull pine, black Jack, western red pine, or western longleaf pine.
Lodgepole Pine (Latin name: Pinus contorta var. latifolia)
- Native to Alberta, the lodgepole pine is the arboreal emblem of the province. Giant forests full of lodgepoles are prevalent in Western Canada and are very common to see on hikes in the area. The lodgepole pine is tall and skinny, though specific subspecies can be short shrubs. The taller variety can grow 130-160 feet or up to 50 meters high. It has two needles in each bundle.
Red Pine (Latin name: Pinus resinosa)
- Native to Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, and Newfoundland. The red pine is a tall tree with a conical top. As the tree ages, the crown will become rounded. It has two needles per bundle. The red pine can grow 50-80 feet or up to 25 meters. It is also known as the Canadian pine or Norway pine.
Pitch Pine (Latin name: Pinus rigida)
- Native to Ontario and Quebec. This pine was later introduced to Nova Scotia. The pitch pine used to be a huge source of resin historically and had a wide range of applications and products. This pine tree has three needles per bundle. It can grow to 50-100 feet or up to 30 meters.
Black Pine (Latin name: Pinus nigra)
- Imported to Canada from Europe, black pines can be found in Ontario and Quebec. Black pine trees can grow over 164 feet or 50 meters. They grow in a triangular shape, though the shape fades with age and becomes flat at the top when the tree matures. Needles are solidly tufted and in bundles of two. It is also known as the Austrian Pine.
Scots Pine (Latin name: Pinus sylvestris)
- Imported to Canada from Europe. The scots pine is considered invasive in Nova Scotia. The scots pine has unique brown-red bark that flakes. This tree grows quickly. It has two needles per bundle. It can grow 20-30 feet or up to ten meters high. It is also known as the scotch pine.
Virginia Pine (Latin name: Pinus virginiana)
- Imported to Canada from the United States, the Virginia pine can be found in Ontario. It is a small to medium-sized tree, growing 10-50 feet or up to 15 meters. This pine has two needles per bundle. It is also known as the spruce pine, Virginia scrub pine, or Jersey pine.
Western White Pine (Latin name: Pinus monticola)
- Native to British Columbia and Alberta. The western white pine is related to the eastern white pine. It is one of the largest types of pine trees, growing to 60-150 feet or up to 46 meters. There are five needles in each bundle. Western white pines are known by different names in different regions, such as the mountain white pine, Idaho white pine, or silver pine.
Mugo (or Mugho) Pine (Latin name: Pinus mugo)
- Introduced to Canada. The Mugo pine is a shrub or dwarf pine tree. It is sometimes planted to prevent erosion. The shrub variety grows to 3-6 feet or 2 meters. It can also come as a tree variety which can grow up to 25 feet or up to 8 meters. It has two needles per bundle. The mugo pine is also known as the mountain pine.
Himalayan Pine (Latin name: Pinus Wallichiana)
- Introduced to Canada. Though uncommon, it can be seen in Ontario. Regarded as a showy tree, it does best when protected from strong winds and thrives best in higher elevations. It has needles that are 12-20 cm in length. The Himalayan pine has five needles in each bundle. This pine is also known as the Bhutan pine.
Bristlecone Pine (Latin name: Pinus aristata)
- Introduced to Canada. The bristlecone pine grows very slowly and is native to the southern region of the Rocky Mountains. This type of tree has a very long lifespan and can live over 4,000 years. The bristlecone is resilient and can survive harsh weather. This pine tree has five needles per bundle. It is also known as the Hickory Pine or the Rocky Mountain Bristlecone.
Monterey Pine (Latin name: Pinus radiata)
- Native to Canada. The Monterey pine has a thick tree and branches and grows quickly. This type of tree has three, or sometimes two, needles per bundle. It grows to a height of 100 feet or 30 meters.
Shore Pine (Latin name: Pinus contorta var. contorta)
- Native to British Columbia. The shore pine is closely related to the lodgepole pine. Often called the twisted pine as both the branches and trunk are contorted. It can grow to heights of 160 feet or 49 meters. It typically has two needles in each bundle, but it can have between one and five, depending on where it is located. It is also known as a scrub pine or coast pine.

Though only a few types of pine trees grow in Canada compared to their other coniferous and deciduous counterparts, they provide great variety in Canadian forests.

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