Northern Pitch Pine, Pitch pine
Pinus rigida
Family: Pinaceae
What it is like
Bloom Color: Green, Yellow. Main Bloom Time: Early spring, Late spring, Mid spring. Form: Pyramidal.
Pinus rigida is an evergreen Tree growing to 15 m (49ft) by 7 m (23ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4. It is in leaf all year, and the seeds ripen from January to February. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Wind. The plant is not self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.
Height (m): 15
Where it is found
Sandy or barren plains and dry gravelly uplands, occasionally in cold deep swamps. It is most abundant in the coastal region south of Massachusetts.
Eastern N. America - New Brunswick to Georgia and west to Kentucky.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 1
A vanillin flavouring is obtained as a by-product of other resins that are released from the pulpwood.
Condiment: the various plants that are used as flavourings, either as herbs, spices or condiments.
Medicine
Rating: 2
The turpentine obtained from the resin of all pine trees is antiseptic, diuretic, rubefacient and vermifuge. It is a valuable remedy used internally in the treatment of kidney and bladder complaints and is used both internally and as a rub and steam bath in the treatment of rheumatic affections. It is also very beneficial to the respiratory system and so is useful in treating diseases of the mucous membranes and respiratory complaints such as coughs, colds, influenza and TB. Externally it is a very beneficial treatment for a variety of skin complaints, wounds, sores, burns, boils etc and is used in the form of liniment plasters, poultices, herbal steam baths and inhalers.
Antiseptic: Preventing sepsis, decay or putrefaction, it destroys or arrests the growth of micro-organisms.
Diuretic: Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.
Pectoral: Relieves respiratory diseases, a remedy for chest diseases.
Poultice: A moist, usually warm or hot, mass of plant material applied to the skin in the treatment of burns etc.
Rubefacient: A counter-irritant and external stimulant, it produces inflammation and redness of the skin.
Salve: Soothes and heals damaged skin.
Skin: Plants used in miscellaneous treatments for the skin.
Vermifuge: Expels and kills internal parasites.
Vulnerary: Promotes the healing of wounds.
Other
Rating: 3
A tan or green dye is obtained from the needles. The needles contain a substance called terpene, this is released when rain washes over the needles and it has a negative effect on the germination of some plants, including wheat. Smoke from the burning leaves has been used to get rid of fleas. The tree is a good source of resin but it is not exploited commercially. Oleo-resins are present in the tissues of all species of pines, but these are often not present in sufficient quantity to make their extraction economically worthwhile. The resins are obtained by tapping the trunk, or by destructive distillation of the wood. In general, trees from warmer areas of distribution give the higher yields. Turpentine consists of an average of 20% of the oleo-resin and is separated by distillation. Turpentine has a wide range of uses including as a solvent for waxes etc, for making varnish, medicinal etc. Rosin is the substance left after turpentine is removed. This is used by violinists on their bows and also in making sealing wax, varnish etc. Pitch can also be obtained from the resin and is used for waterproofing, as a wood preservative etc. The knots contain so much resin that they resist rot. They burn well and have been gathered and placed at the ends of sticks to make torches. Wood - coarse-grained, light, soft, brittle, not strong, very durable, resinous. It weighs 32lb per cubic foot. Mainly used for charcoal and fuel, it is occasionally sawn into lumber.
Charcoal: Used for fuel, drawing, deodorant, filter, fertilizer etc.
Dye: Plants that provide dyes.
Fuel: Usually wood, plant materials that have been mentioned as being a good fuel.
Herbicide: Plants or plant extracts that can inhibit the growth of other plants.
Lighting: Plants that can be used as torches etc. See also Oil and Wax.
Repellent: Plants that are said to deter but not necessarily kill various mammals, birds, insects etc.
Resin: Used in perfumery, medicines, paints, soap making etc. This also includes turpentine, which is extracted from many resins and used as a preservative, water proofer etc,
Wood: A list of the trees and shrubs that are noted for having useful wood.
How it is grown
Landscape Uses:Seashore, Specimen, Woodland garden. Thrives in a light well-drained sandy or gravelly loam. Dislikes poorly drained moorland soils. Plants can grow on almost sterile soils, rocky or sandy. Established plants tolerate drought. Leaf secretions inhibit the germination of seeds, thereby reducing the amount of plants that can grow under the trees. Because of its tolerance of poor soils, the northern pitch pine is used in America for re-afforesting worn-out lands. It is planted on a small scale for timber in many European countries. Growth of young seedlings is slow, but from the age of about 5 years they are fairly fast growing with average annual increases in height of almost 30cm. Growth soon tails off in areas where the tree is not well suited. Most trees in Britain are found in S. England. The cones are 3 - 9cm long, they open and shed their seed whilst still attached to the tree and can persist on the tree for 10 years or more. Plants are strongly outbreeding, self-fertilized seed usually grows poorly. They hybridize freely with other members of this genus. Sucker shoots are often produced from the trunk. This is the only species of pine known to produce suckers. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus. Special Features: Attracts birds, North American native, Inconspicuous flowers or blooms.
Propagating it: It is best to sow the seed in individual pots in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe if this is possible otherwise in late winter. A short stratification of 6 weeks at 4°c can improve the germination of stored seed. Plant seedlings out into their permanent positions as soon as possible and protect them for their first winter or two. Plants have a very sparse root system and the sooner they are planted into their permanent positions the better they will grow. Trees should be planted into their permanent positions when they are quite small, between 30 and 90cm. We actually plant them out when they are about 5 - 10cm tall. So long as they are given a very good weed-excluding mulch they establish very well. Larger trees will check badly and hardly put on any growth for several years. This also badly affects root development and wind resistance. Cuttings. This method only works when taken from very young trees less than 10 years old. Use single leaf fascicles with the base of the short shoot. Disbudding the shoots some weeks before taking the cuttings can help. Cuttings are normally slow to grow away.
Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Canopy;
Habit: Tree
Hardiness: 4-7
Growth: Medium
Soil: Light (sandy), medium
Shade: No shade
Moisture: Dry, moist
Things to keep in mind
The wood, sawdust and resins from various species of pine can cause dermatitis in sensitive people.