White pine is one of our most beautiful native trees, with long, delicate, bluish-green thin needles that grow in bundles of five. Found growing in the eastern half of North America, white pines were once the predominant forest species in large parts of Pennsylvania, upstate New York and Michigan, until they fell to timber production. The soft and fine-grained wood was valued for building ships, houses and bridges in the 18th century. Trees over 150 feet tall were reported. The graceful branches of this pine grow in distinct tiers. It is normal for the older needles to fall off, exposing the greenish- gray bark. In clay soil, it may becone chlorotic and it has occasional problems with white pine blister rust, weevils and Zimmerman pine moth. The state tree of Michigan, a large stand of virgin trees can be seen at Hartwick Pines State Park.