MinervaFlora - April Updates

This month’s featured Minerva Park tree is Pinus strobus (White Pine).  Take a walk heading east on the path along the South Lake and just after you pass the parking lot, you’ll come to the first of 5 White Pine trees.

Native to Ohio, White Pine is an evergreen conifer (has cones) that grows 50-80’ tall and 20-40’ wide. It is tolerant of a range of well-drained soils, likes sun, dislikes air pollutants, salts and alkaline soils, and therefore it requires some consideration when deciding where it should be planted.

Important as a timber tree, the White Pine is often used as a Christmas tree in large open park-like areas. Some consider White Pine the Sequoia of the east. At one time, this tall, straight tree was used for boat masts.

Fun fact: during the Pine Tree Riot of 1772, local townspeople chased and beat the King’s mast surveyors with pine switches (and may have inspired the Boston Tea Party)!

White Pine is highly flammable. The ‘leaves’ are comprised of 5 fine-textured needles in a bundle. Stroking the leaves can activate an immune response of T-cells in the human body!

One white pine can intercept up to 4000 gallons/water per year and it attracts butterflies and other pollinators, songbirds and small mammals, so it has great eco-system services.

2-3 years ago, more than 50 White Pine saplings were planted in various spots of Minerva Park. Remember when planting to follow the "right plant, right place" philosophy!