Pinus resinosa

Pinus resinosa is an evergreen Tree growing to 35 m at a medium rate.
It is hardy to zone 3. It is in leaf all year, and the seeds ripen from October to February. The species is monoecious and is pollinated by Wind. The plant is not self-fertile.
Suitable for: light and medium soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: acid and neutral soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

Thrives in a light well-drained sandy or gravelly loam. Dislikes poorly drained moorland soils. Established plants tolerate drought and windy situations. The red pine is often cultivated as a timber crop in Europe. It is used as a re-afforestation tree in Canada. Slow growing when very young, though it speeds up and new shoots of 60cm a year have been recorded. It takes 20 - 25 years before reliable seed production begins, good crops are then produced every 4 - 5 years. This tree does not seem to be long-lived in Britain and is only found in the south-east of the country, though it should succeed elsewhere. Leaf secretions inhibit the germination of seeds, thereby reducing the amount of plants that can grow under the trees. Trees have a fairly thick bark and this helps to protect them from heat of forest fires. The cones are 5 - 6cm long, they take 2 years to ripen then open and shed their seed whilst still attached to the tree. Plants are strongly outbreeding, self-fertilized seed usually grows poorly. They hybridize freely with other members of this genus. The resin from broken shoots has a strong scent of lemon balm. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus.