Pinus banksiana (Jack Pine)

Noted for its hardiness and ability to grow in poor soils, Pinus banksiana (Jack Pine) is usually a small to medium-sized, evergreen conifer of scrubby habit, adorned with a crooked trunk and an irregular crown. Its thick, twisted, slightly olive green needles are borne in pairs. Curved at the tip, the cones are light brown, turning gray with age, and can remain on the plants for many years and never open since sealed with resin. They open when exposed to intense heat, such as a fire, to reseed the burnt ground. The bark is orange to reddish-brown and develops irregular fissuring with age. A tough tree, tremendously cold-tolerant, that is adaptable to dry or sandy sites where it can be used for windbreaks or mass planting.

• Grows up to 35-50 ft. tall (10-15 m) and 20-30 ft. wide (6-9 m).
• Performs best in full sun in sandy loam, well-drained soils. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought. Best in cool summer and cold winter areas. Tolerates a wide variety of soils.
• Easy to grow, easy to care for, and rarely browsed by deer.
• No pruning is required.
• Native to North America.