What kind of pine trees grow in Michigan?
In Michigan we have two native hard pine species: red pine (Pinus resinosa) and jack pine (Pinus banksiana). Soft pines, in contrast, mostly have needles in fascicles of five. Michigan's native soft pine is our state tree, eastern white pine (Pinus strobus).
How do I identify a Michigan pine tree?
Identification: White pines can be identified by their clusters of long, soft, blue-green needles that grow in bundles of five. This differentiates them from red and jack pines, whose needles grow in bundles of two. The trees have red-brown bark that forms scaly plates.
Why does Michigan have so many pine trees?
“Lumberjacks, they kind of came from the eastern United States—logging was big there when the country was first colonized,” Pine said. “Really quickly, the trees get cut down, they make their way to Michigan, and we have these wonderful stands of old-growth White Pine.”
What is the most common pine tree in Michigan?
Eastern white pine is Michigan's State tree and can be found in almost every county of the Upper and Lower Peninsula. It typically grows in mixed forests and sandy plains. White pine is a conifer; it keeps its needles all year long and produces cones.
What is the most common tree in Michigan?
sugar mapleThe most common tree is Michigan is sugar maple, followed by red maple, northern white cedar, red pine, and quaking aspen. Each year, for every thousand trees in the forest, 24 new trees grow, 12 trees are harvested, and 9 die naturally.
Are all pine trees edible?
If you have a pine tree in your neighborhood, you can harvest your own needles. All pine needles are edible, though you may find that you like the flavor of some pines over others. Just be sure the tree hasn't been sprayed with any pesticides or herbicides.
When was Michigan deforested?
“For those that don't know, most of Lower Michigan's forests were clearcut during the logging era, and that was about 1850 to 1910.” This logging era got underway just as the Erie Canal opened, and just as white settlers gained control of the land of Michigan from its indigenous people.
What is killing Michigan pine trees?
Sudden wilt and death of pines in Michigan and across the Midwest may have been the result of a disease caused by pinewood nematodes, (Bursaphelenchus xylophilis). This parasitic nematode most commonly attacks non-native pines, such as Scotch and Austrian.
When did logging stop in Michigan?
MICHIGAN FORESTS DURING THE LOGGING ERA From about 1840 to 1900, most of the Michigan forests were cut down for farms and to produce lumber for buildings, ships, and mines. Michigan was the nation's leading lumber producer between 1869 and 1900. In early days of logging, there were few roads.
What is a jack pine look like?
Jack pine is a small to medium-sized evergreen noted for its scraggly appearance and ability to grow in poor soils. Its needles are short, stiff, olive green (to 1.5” long) in bundles of two. Its crown is small, irregularly rounded or spreading and flattened over time.
How can you tell a jack pine?
0:062:51Identifying jack pine - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAs with many of the pines. The jack pine has bark that breaks into plates jack pine's plates tend toMoreAs with many of the pines. The jack pine has bark that breaks into plates jack pine's plates tend to be narrower meaning they don't get quite as wide this way and go vertically.
What's the difference between white pine and jack pine?
Eastern White Pine is low-maintenance and makes a beautiful ornamental tree suitable for large properties and parks. Jack Pine is a cold tolerant native species that can survive on dry, sandy or gravelly sites.
How do I identify a pine tree?
0:242:47How to Identify Pine Trees - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf your tree has clusters it's a sure bet that it's a pine.MoreIf your tree has clusters it's a sure bet that it's a pine.
How many types of pine trees are there in Michigan?
threeMichigan has three native species of Pine trees and two widely established non-native species. Two additional species have been recorded in the Michigan Flora database but currently they rarely escape. They are Pitch Pine (Pinus rigida) and Ponderosa Pine (P. ponderosa).
Are there ponderosa pines in Michigan?
Pinus ponderosa - Michigan Flora. A tall, long-needled, western North American species sometimes planted in Michigan and rarely escaped into dry, sandy fields; collected by W. S. Martinus in Muskegon Co. in 2009.
What is killing Michigan pine trees?
Sudden wilt and death of pines in Michigan and across the Midwest may have been the result of a disease caused by pinewood nematodes, (Bursaphelenchus xylophilis). This parasitic nematode most commonly attacks non-native pines, such as Scotch and Austrian.
Where can I find Jack Pines in Michigan?
Michigan native Jack Pines occur in the hottest driest landscapes preferring well-drained sandy or rocky soils, needing full sun. No wonder they can be found along the sand dunes of Lake Michigan where I located a dense grove of them.
Where are white pine trees found?
This native pine once covered much of North Central and Northeastern North America, but only "1" percent remains today. At the turn of the century, White Pines were clear cut during Michigan’s lumber era, which rebuilt Chicago after the Great Fire of 1871. The trees were favored because they were easily accessible occurring in pure stands and floated well. By the early 1900's, over 100 million of Michigan pine trees had been felled in the Lower Peninsula before lumber companies targeted the Upper Peninsula. During this era, the Southwestern Michigan lumber and ship-building town of Singapore became buried in sand, lost forever as a result of clear cutting.
What is the bark color of Austrian pine?
The Austrian (Black) pine bark is pinkish gray to darker brown to nearly black (inherent to the common name); older trunks are coarser and deeply fissured, flaking coarsely. The bark looks quite similar to the Scots and Red Pine bark.
How long are red pine needles?
Red Pine tree needles measure approximately 5 to7 inch (12.7 to 17.75 cm) long, are coarse, slender, straight, sharp and flexible, but snap apart when bent sharply. They grow two per bundle (fascicle) and are colored medium green to dark green remaining on trees up to four years providing a dense appearance, especially in younger trees. The Red Pine winter buds are rather resinous as with their resin-retentive lumber, reflected in the scientific name ( Pinus resinosa ).
What is the color of the bark on a red pine tree?
Red Pine tree bark is thick and gray-brown at the base of the tree, and more thin, flaky and bright orange-red brown along the upper crown, (the origin of the tree's common name). Red pine bark is fire resistant; can easily be confused with Austrian and Scots pine tree bark.
How long are Jack Pine cones?
Jack Pine seed cones measure 1.5 to 2 inches ( 3.8 to 5 cm) long, having a rounded shape, opening up the second year, later dropping from the tree soon as ripening in autumn or winter.
What color is Scots Pine bark?
Scots Pine bark can be bright orange , especially noticeable along the large upper trunk and limbs, a recognizable feature from a reasonable distance on mature trees. The base of the trunks are typically more gray. Bark is thin and flaky with scaly ridges, becoming moderately thick on older trees.
What type of trees grow in Michigan?
Be a smart gardener and learn how to identify pine, spruce and fir trees. Three of the most common conifers grown in Michigan are pine ( Pinus spp.), fir ( Abies spp.) and spruce ( Picea spp.) trees. They are all evergreen, pyramidal and have similar foliage color.
How many needles are there in a pine tree?
Pines ( Pinus spp .) bear needles in clusters of two, three or five needles, depending on the species. Their needles may be long or short, but if you find needles in clusters, you have a pine tree.
What are spruce needles?
Spruce ( Picea spp.) needles, on the other hand, are attached individually to the stem. Also, spruce needles are sharply pointed, square and easy to roll between your fingers. Another important distinguishing feature is that spruce needles are attached to small, peg-like wooden structures. When the needles are shed, these projections remain and the spruce branches feel rough.
Where is red pine grown in Michigan?
Most of Michigan’s red pine lies in the northern Lower Peninsula. Red pine naturally occurs mostly on well-drained sandy soils, usually of glacial origin.
What is the fastest growing tree in Michigan?
Red pine is one of Michigan’s fastest growing trees and has the ability to sustain rapid wood production given proper management. About one-third to one-half of the tree height should be occupied by live crown for best growth. As live crown length decreases, so does diameter growth (narrower annual rings).
How many square feet should a sawtimber tree stand be?
Sawtimbersized stands should be managed at about 120 square feet of basal area.4
How do red pine trees grow?
As a result, stands are typically even-aged. A tree produces only one whorl of branches each year, so age is reasonably easy to determine. Red pine is one of Michigan’s fastest growing trees and has the ability to sustain rapid wood production given proper management. About one-third to one-half of the tree height should be occupied by live crown for best growth. As live crown length decreases, so does diameter growth (narrower annual rings). Too much live crown when trees reach sawtimber sizes, leaves knots and degrades monetary value. Red pines develop close relationships with naturally occurring root fungi called mycorrhizae, which greatly enhance water and nutrient uptake.
How long does it take for red pine to grow?
Once seedlings are established and heights exceed those of competing vegetation, red pine will grow rapidly on a proper site. Within about 20 to 25 years, the canopy will close, and lower branches will naturally prune themselves.
How many red pine trees are needed to grow a tree?
Management and Silviculture. Because of difficulties in natural seeding and fire requirements, most red pines are planted. With good management, as few as 500 trees/acre are needed, though planting rates are usually closer to 800.
How big is a red pine tree?
There are two long needles (4 to 6 inches long) per bundle, joined at the base by a papery sheath. The mature cones are oval to round and about 1.5 inches across. The bark is scaly with a distinct reddish gray cast. Michigan’s largest recorded red pine is 154 feet tall and 39 inches in diameter.2
What is the most common tree in Michigan?
Red maple. The red maple is an extremely common species found throughout all of Michigan. It is a very aggressive colonizing species and can be found in a wide range of forest types. The red maple is also a common ornamental tree, being used in landscaping and in urban areas, highly popular for its fall coloration.
Which state has the most maple trees?
Michigan is one of the best states for trees. The state is home to one of the largest populations of sugar maple trees -- three times more than Vermont, the largest producer of maple syrup in the U.S. Several other types of trees are found around the state. To help you identify what you're looking at, we've created a tree guide with information ...
How to tell if a white pine tree is a red pine?
Another way to identify white pine is by its pine cones. White pines have long hard pine cones that are often curved. More on the White Pine here from the Michigan DNR.
What color are the leaves on a red maple tree?
The leaves are a bright green on the upper side and a silvery-green on the underside. Some trees have easily identifiable bark, but the red maple can be somewhat tricky to identify. The red maple’s bark is smooth, thin and light colored when young. Older trunks are rough-ridged and dark gray.
Why is the Jack Pine tree a fire species?
It is called a fire species because historically, wildfires swept through jack pine stands and prepared the ground for a new stand. The heat from the fire enabled the cones to release their seeds, which sprouted into the next generation of jack pines.
What color are sugar maple leaves?
The leaves are a dark yellowish green above and a lighter green color on the underside. The sugar maple’s leaves turn yellow, orange, or red in the fall. Sugar maples have dark gray bark with furrowed ridges, not as easily identifiable compared to other Michigan tree species.
What is the fruit of a red maple called?
The fruit of a red maple is called a samara, more commonly known as “helicopters” due to the swirling motion they make as they fall to the ground. The red maple’s samaras are small in size and the two wings form a narrow “v” shape.
How old are Michigan trees?
We might not think of a scraggly little Michigan tree, measuring only a few inches around, clinging to a rock face along the Lake Superior coastline -- looking every bit like a young sapling, but in actuality, clocking in at up to 1,000 years old.
What is old growth in Michigan?
So for those of us who might want to occasionally commune with our state's oldest forests, we must seek out wild areas designated as "old growth" or sometimes "virgin," terms that, in Michigan, usually refer to stands of trees or individual trees that managed to dodge the lumbermen's axes during the logging boom of the mid- to late 1800s.
How big is Hartwick Pines State Park?
Hartwick Pines State Park. Saved, rather ironically, by the daughter of 19th-century Michigan lumberman, this 10,000-acre state park near Grayling is home to a 49-acre parcel of old-growth timber -- including white pine, red pine and hemlock that are 150 feet tall and up to 400 years old.
How many acres are there in Sylvania Wilderness?
Sylvania Wilderness. Don't Edit. Sylvania Wilderness encompasses some 18,000 acres of gloriously wild terrain within the nearly one-million-acre Ottawa National Forest in the western U.P. Within this special tract of land, one can find record-sized red and white pines as well as old-growth hardwoods.
What is the name of the tree that grows in the Pacific Northwest?
When it comes to old-growth forest, the image that first comes to mind for many of us might be the Pacific Northwest's redwoods or giant sequoias -- those ancient, massive trees, thousands of years old, towering overhead with trunks spanning 20 feet in diameter.
Where is the last virgin beech-maple forest in Michigan?
According to the National Park Service, this 300-some acre natural area is the last known stand of virgin beech-maple forest in southern Michigan, preserved thanks to the foresight of turn-of-the-century businessman who made his fortune revolutionizing how women's corsets were made. The park, which was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1967, features a few miles of hiking trails and is roughly seven miles east of Warren Dunes State Park. More details here
Is Michigan's oldest tree still alive?
Such is the nature of the oldest trees and old-growth forests still remaining in Michigan: They're unexpected, occasionally understated, and often largely overlooked. "Old growth doesn't always mean big," says Keith Kintigh, a forest certification and conservation specialist with the Michigan DNR. He notes that some of Michigan's oldest trees are ...
