Pictures & descriptions of the trees we offer

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Government Directory>Charlevoix Conservation District>Pictures - conifer trees

Mature red pine stand [Click here to view full size picture]

This page will show you what each tree will look like 'grown up'.
These pictures were taken locally to more accurately reflect their apprearance having 'grown up' in Charlevoix &/or Emmet Counties.
This stand of red pine is located in Rotary Park, in Boyne City. We believe they are approximately 30 years old.

Conifers are planted for a variety of reasons including: windbreaks, wildlife habitat, plantations, erosion control or timber production.

RED PINE
WHITE PINE
NORWAY SPRUCE
WHITE SPRUCE
BLUE SPRUCE
FRASER FIR
WHITE CEDAR
European Larch

RED PINE

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Description: Moderate to fast growing on a good site. Tall timber tree 50' to 80' in height, 2'-3' in diameter. Needles are dark green, 4-6" long, flexible. Bark is reddish brown. Native Michigan tree. Wood is hard and close grained, light, quite strong.
Uses: Used for construction, pilings, flooring, RR ties, pulp and poles.
Site: Grows in coarse, well-drained sandy or sandy loam type soil. Full sun, can tolerate dry, windy, rocky conditions. Cannot tolerate shade, poorly drained soil or heavy clay loam soils. pH 4.5-6.0
Management: Recommended initial spacing 500-700 trees per acre, will result in merchantable trees at the 1st thinning. Plant 7' apart, in rows 10' apart. Control of competing vegetation is essential in young plantations. Red pine rates high in its ability to deal with natural enemies, however diseased Red, Scotch or Jack pines in the vicinity present a danger since pests readily spread. Pay attention to the condition of trees. If insects or disease become evident, contact the District Forester immediately. Watch for Root Collar Weevil, and Pine Sawfly. Branches pruned flush with trunk ensure higher quality saw timber.

Mature red pine [Click here to view full size picture]

WHITE PINE

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Description: Eastern White Pine was once the principal tree in Northern Michigan. It was and still is prized for it's valuable lumber. White pine reach 80' to 120' in height and will attain a 2'-3' diameter. Long soft needles occur in bundles of 5 and are 2" to 4" long. Uses: Wood is light, straight grained, easily worked but not strong. Used in cabinet work, interior finishes, woodenware, matches and lumber. White pine provides food for deer, rabbits and squirrels. Site: Planting where a few tall trees are left for cover will decrease damage by white pine weevil. White pine can be planted in areas of limited shade. Shade tolerant when young, becoming intolerant with age. Does best on rich porous, moist soils. Does poorly on clay or poorly drained soils. Management: Recommended 400-700 trees per acre, 7'x10' apart, including existing trees. Currants and Gooseberries are alternate hosts for white pine blister rust and should not be located within 300' of white pine. Trees established under a forest canopy should be released when they are 17'-22' in height. Early pruning of bottom branches helps prevent losses due to blister rust. Due to its susceptibility to white pine weevil and resultant deformed growing habit, a close evaluation of plantings should be made if the trees are not planted in an understory area. The deformity of white pine and it's maintenance of low branch growth in open plantings, make it desirable for windbreaks at a staggered 10'x10' spacing.

Mature white pine [Click here to view full size picture]

NORWAY SPRUCE

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Description: Fast growing spruce imported from Europe. Norway spruce have annual whorls and develop strong branches covered with dark green 4 sided needles 1/2" to 1" long. Mature trees reach 60' to 90' in height with a 1'-3' diameter. Uses: Timber, pulp, windbreaks, and wildlife. Site: Thrives in clay to loam soils. Prefers moisture in soil to maintain deep green color. Management: Recommended spacing 6' apart in rows with 10' between rows, 600-800 trees per acre. Like the white spruce, major damage from insect and disease attack can be reduced by planting on the proper site at the proper density. Though not native to Michigan, the norway spruce will grow in all of Michigan.

Mature norway spruce [Click here to view full size picture]

WHITE SPRUCE

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Description: White spruce is a large timber tree native to northern Michigan. It's short 1" stiff needles grow on all sides of the branches and are colored from a light bluish-green to dark green. Attains a height of 90' to 100' with diameters in excess of 20" on good sites. Uses: Unlike pines, white spruce retain their bottom branches making them desirable for windbreaks and shelter belts. Their density provides good wildlife cover. The wood is used for pulpwood, interior trim, construction and structural parts of furniture. Site: Clay, clay loam and loam; well-drained soils. Can tolerate heat and drought. Tolerant of shade, grows slowly in understory and responds well to release. Tolerates wide range in pH 4.5 - 7.6. Management: Recommended spacing 6' apart in rows with 10' between rows, 600-800 trees per acre. After first five years or so, the white spruce seedlings grow rapidly. The yellow-headed spruce sawfly, spruce budworm and wind are the major enemies of white spruce. The severity of these problems will be reduced if particular attention is paid to proper site selection and spacing. The white spruce has been planted successfully throughout all of Michigan.

Mature white spruce [Click here to view full size picture]

BLUE SPRUCE

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Description: Nicely shaped, moderately large tree. This slow growing spruce, 6-12" per year, will reach 80' to 100' with a 1'-2' diameter trunk (in it's native Colorado). It has silvery, blue-green needles 1" to 1 1/2" long. Uses: most often planted for wildlife cover, screens, windbreaks and Christmas trees. Site: Prefers rich, moist soils and is the least shade tolerant of all the spruces. Threatened by the same pests as other spruce varieties, it can best ward off attacks when planted on good sites. Management: Recommended spacing 6' apart in rows with 10' between rows, 600-800 trees per acre. Most prevalent insect problem, the Cooley spruce gall Adelgid, which causes brown cone-like swellings on the tips of growing shoots. Cooley spruce gall Adelgid will not kill the tree, it just makes it look bad. Contact the District Forester for more information.

Blue spruce [Click here to view full size picture]

FRASER FIR

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Description: Growth rate slow reaching a height of 40' to 60'. A medium sized pyramidal growing fir of great beauty. Uses: Excellent Christmas tree. Needs only light shearing. Site: Prefers cool, moist, well-drained soil and North exposure. Does not require full sunlight.

Fraser Fir [Click here to view full size picture]

WHITE CEDAR

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Description: Native tree. Very slow growing & long lived. Leaves are flattened scales and the branchlets are flattened. Will reach height of 35' to 50'. Uses: Great for hedges & windbreaks once established. Important winter food for deer. Ornamental, lumber. Site: Does best planted in low swampy areas. Grows well on a variety of sites.

European Larch

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A deciduous conifer with delicate needles that turn bright golden in the fall prior to falling off. Reaches height of 40-80'. Shade intolerant, fast-growing. Best suited for wet sites.

in fall color [Click here to view full size picture]

This page last updated on 1/19/2007.