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Virginia pine identification: needles, bark, cones and twigs
Virginia pine, Pinus virginiana, is a native tree in Pennsylvania. How to recognize it by its needles, bark, cones and twigs, and how to tell it from look-alikes.
Needles in bundles, wrapped together at the base. Twisted yellow-green needles 1 1/2 to 3 inches long, two per bundle, spreading apart. Bark: Thin scaly plates with cinnamon-colored patches higher on the trunk. Checked Nov. 14, 2026.
How to identify Virginia pine
| Leaf type | Needles in bundles, wrapped together at the base |
|---|---|
| Needles | Twisted yellow-green needles 1 1/2 to 3 inches long, two per bundle, spreading apart. |
| Bark | Thin scaly plates with cinnamon-colored patches higher on the trunk. |
| Cones | Cones 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches long with a sharp prickle on each scale; they stay on the tree. |
| Twigs | Purplish twigs with a whitish, waxy coating. |
| Size and shape | Scrubby, flat-topped crown with many dead branches; up to about 70 feet. |
From the Virginia Tech Dendrology fact sheet, in our own words.
Is Virginia pine native to Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP) lists Virginia pine as native to Pennsylvania.
See all 140 trees, with a 4-question identifier, in our Pennsylvania tree identification guide.
Trees that look like Virginia pine
| Tree | Its leaves |
|---|---|
| Table Mountain pine Pinus pungens | Needles in bundles, wrapped together at the base. Stout, twisted needles 1 1/2 to 3 1/2 inches long, two per bundle, yellow-green. |
| Shortleaf pine Pinus echinata | Needles in bundles, wrapped together at the base. Slender, flexible needles 3 to 5 inches long, in bundles of two and three on the same branch. |
| Scots pine Pinus sylvestris | Needles in bundles, wrapped together at the base. Stout, twisted blue-green needles 1 1/2 to 3 inches long, two per bundle. |
Compare the leaves first, then the bark, cones and twigs on each tree’s page.
Other pines in Pennsylvania
Red pine (Pinus resinosa), Pitch pine (Pinus rigida), Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus), Austrian pine (Pinus nigra).
Questions
How do you identify Virginia pine?
Look for needles in bundles, wrapped together at the base. Twisted yellow-green needles 1 1/2 to 3 inches long, two per bundle, spreading apart. Bark: Thin scaly plates with cinnamon-colored patches higher on the trunk.
Is Virginia pine native to Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP) lists Virginia pine as native to Pennsylvania.
How big does Virginia pine get?
Scrubby, flat-topped crown with many dead branches; up to about 70 feet.
What tree looks like Virginia pine?
Table Mountain pine, Shortleaf pine, Scots pine. Compare the leaves first.
Sources: Virginia Tech Dendrology (Pinus virginiana fact sheet); Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, PA Vascular Plant List (native or introduced status). Checked Nov. 14, 2026.
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