Idaho State Tree

Western White Pine

(Pinaceae Pinus monticola)

Adopted on February 13, 1935.

The Western White Pine (Pinus Monticola pinaceae), our state tree, is probably most notable since the largest remaining volume of this timber in the United States grows in the northern part of Idaho. White Pine has many fine qualities such as straight grain and soft even texture. Idaho’s state tree grows to 175 feet with a trunk diameter from 5 to 8 feet. The largest western white pine in the world stands 219 ft. high near Elk River, Idaho.

Adopted by the 1935 legislature. According to the legislative bill, it was promoted by 'members of Ellen Wright Camp, Franklin County Chapter, Daughters of Pioneers.'

Description of the Idaho State Tree

Western white pine (Pinus monticola), also called mountain white pine, Idaho white pine, or silver pine, is an important timber tree. Its lightweight, nonresinous, straight-grained wood exhibits dimensional stability that makes it particularly valuable for sash, frames, and doors, interior paneling, building construction, match wood, and toothpicks. Western white pine grows rapidly to a large size; one of the largest standing trees measures 200 cm (78.6 in) in d.b.h. and 72.8 m (239 ft) tall in the mountains near Medford, OR.

Common Names

mountain white pine, Idaho white pine, or silver pine,

Identification

• Leaf: Acicular, 2 to 4 inches long, fascicles of 5, blue-green with white lines of stomatal bloom on two of the three needle surfaces, persist 3 to 4 years, bundle sheath is deciduous, apex blunt.
• Flower: Monoecious; male cones are small, yellow, and clustered near the tips of branches; female cones are larger, almost round, greenish-pink in color, and clustered near the tips of branches in the upper parts of the crown.
• Fruit: Large cylindrical woody cones, 5 to 12" long, thin and curved. Brown when mature; scales thin and unarmed, typically tipped with globs of white resin; very short stalk.
• Twig: Moderately stout and grayish-brown.
• Bark: Initially thin and grayish-green later becoming up to 2 inches thick, gray to purplish-gray and broken into square or rectangular blocks, not ridged and furrowed. Dark bands commonly encircle the tree where whorls of branches have fallen off.
• Form: Tall, straight, evergreen conifer growing to 180 feet tall and 4 feet in diameter with an open crown, long up-raised branches near the top (horizontal lower down); bole commonly free of branches for half its length.

1935 Legislation

STATE TREE
Idaho Session Laws, 1935, page 35.

AN ACT, DESIGNATING THE WHITE PINE AS THE STATE TREE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO.
WHEREAS, the members of Ellen Wright Camp, Franklin County Chapter, Daughters of Pioneers, by resolution, have asked that the White Pine be designated as the state tree of the State of Idaho.

NOW THEREFORE:

Be it Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
Section 1. The White Pine (Pinus Monticolae) is hereby designated and declared to be the state tree of the State of Idaho.

Approved February 13, 1935.

Statute

Idaho Statutes TITLE 67
STATE GOVERNMENT AND STATE AFFAIRS
CHAPTER 45
67-4504. STATE TREE DESIGNATED. The White Pine (Pinus Monticolae) is
hereby designated and declared to be the state tree of the state of Idaho.

Taxonomic Hierarchy of the Western White Pine

Source:
Dendrology at Virginia Tech
US Department of Agriculture