What's Your Nature?

Become a Nature Up North explorer to share your encounters with wild things and wild places in New York's North Country. Post your wildlife sightings, landscape shots, photos from your outings, and even your organization's events!

Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris)

Posted by Kendrick Fowler,
North Country explorer from
April 14, 2015

Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris, also frequently called Scots pine) is an introduced species in the North Country; it is native to Europe and northern Asia. It is easily identified by its bark, which is smooth or scaly and bright yellow or orange on the branches and upper trunk; and by its needles, which are shorter than those of red or white pine, grow in clusters of 2, and are twisted (unfortunately, I do not have a good picture of the needles at this time). I've also included pictures of the species' cones and buds.