Bill Cook

Pines are the second largest taxonomic group of trees in Michigan, by volume, exceeded only by the maples. However, what makes a “pine” a pine? All that is “evergreen” is not a pine, or even evergreen.

“Pines” belong to the genus Pinus. Michigan forestlands boast three natives (if you exclude porcu-pine) and three exotics. Most of us know white pine, red pine, and jack pine. The introduced species are Scots pine, Austrian pine, and loblolly pine. Altogether, they make up about 15 percent of Michigan’s wood volume.

White pine is closely intertwined with Michigan history. That’s probably why it was chosen as the official state tree. Maine did the same thing. And, Idaho chose western white pine.

Today, however, white pine does not have much commercial value, although it’s the sixth most common tree and may be considered our largest tree, certainly the tallest. Big trees will pop out of the ambient forest canopy and earned the characterization of an “emergent.” White pine has one of the state’s highest net growth rates.

Red and jack pine also occupy a big piece within Michigan forests, especially red pine, or Norway pine, as some folks call it. Red pine was heavily planted by the Civilian Conservation Corps back in the 1930s, after the historic logging era and decades of monster wildfires. It’s a particularly good plantation species for many reasons, including rapid growth and good markets.

Jack pine has a special place in forest ecology as the poster-child for fire-dependent forests. A portion of the cones are actually “glued” shut and open only at ground surface temperatures around 120 degrees, common after fires clear the parent forest. The formerly endangered Kirtland’s warbler is associated with younger jack pine stands of a particular structure. That warbler is one of many forest management success stories.

The three exotic pines occupy a small portion of the forestland inventory. Scots pine is the most common of the three and much of the volume grew from abandoned Christmas tree plantations and conservation programs from the 1940s and 1950s. Austrian pine is an escaped urban tree that’s currently a minor component in our forests. Loblolly pine was planted in southwest Michigan, but it’s native to the U.S. southern states.

Now, having identified the pines, some people tend to call any and all evergreens “pines,” which is why Linnaeus invented scientific names. Spruces, firs, hemlocks, and tamaracks are not pines, although it can be confusing when they also belong to the taxonomic family “Pinaceae.” Accurate identification is particularly important when considering wildlife habitat or diagnosing pest problems or just for the fun of it.

Of the non-pine evergreens, hemlock is the most common by volume, about half. Our other natives are rounded-out by balsam fir, white spruce, black spruce, and tamarack. Then, there’s a sprinkling of five exotic species.

Balsam fir may be the most common Michigan species if numbers of seedlings and saplings are included in a tree count. Then, tamarack is special because it loses all of its needles in the fall, just like the deciduous trees. In fact, tamarack is a deciduous conifer. Nature can be goofy.

Now, one might be thinking where the cedars fall in the menagerie of conifers, especially northern white-cedar. White cedar is the fourth most common tree in Michigan, and can grow to over a thousand years old. Redcedar is a minor forest component but it can be common in parts of southern Michigan. Both species belong to the family Cupressaceae, not the Pinaceae. Redwoods, sequoias, and cypress are family cousins.

Michigan forestlands sport ten native conifers, with another eight or nine introduced species. The group occupies just about every habitat available and altogether consists of around 30 percent of Michigan’s wood volume. That makes Michigan a hardwood state, where broad-leafed forests reign.