Family: Pine Family.
Latin Name: Pinus monticola.
Origin: Mountainous regions of western North America.
Common Names: Western White Pine, Idaho White Pine.
The Tree (characteristics): Idaho White Pine can grow to heights ranging from 100 to 150 feet tall with a trunk that is 3 to 5 feet in diameter. The tree carries banana-shaped cones along with needles that number 5 needles per bundle. The bark is gray and broken into rectangular plates.
Appearance of Wood: The color of the wood varies from almost white to a pale reddish-brown color and will darken due to exposure. Sapwood is a pale yellow to almost white while the heartwood is light brown with a reddish hue at times.
Density: Idaho White Pine is considered a softwood. Average reported specific gravity ranges from .35 to .43 with an average fried weight of 27 pounds per cubic foot. Janka Hardness is 420 pounds of force.
Drying and Shrinkage: Idaho White Pine is easy to dry and has moderate shrinkage. The wood will remain stable once it is dry. Average reported shrinkage values are 4.1% radial, 7.4% tangential, 11.8% volumetric.
Working Properties: Idaho White Pine is a wood that is very easy to work with both hand and machine tools. The wood will glue and finish well. It turns, planes, and shapes well. Idaho White Pine is considered an ideal carving wood.
Durability: Idaho White Pine can be used in either interior or exterior applications. The heartwood, however, is rated as moderate to low in decay resistance.
Uses: Idaho White Pine can be used for carving and interior millwork, veneer, plywood, boxes and crates, wooden matches, and construction lumber.
Availability: Idaho White Pine is widely harvested for construction lumber and is not listed in the CITES Appendices. Reported by the IUCN as a species of least concern.