Jack pine - pinus banksiana

Common Name: jack pine

Scientific Name: 
Family: Pinaceae
Genus: Pinus
Species: banksiana

Hardiness Zone: 2-6
Height: 35-50 ft.
Width: 10-20 ft.

Description: Jack Pine is a hardy tree well suited for northern environments and is thus the most common pine in Minnesota. One interesting thing to note about jack pine in fire-dependent ecosystems is that its seeds spread by fire, after a layer of resin that covers its cones is melted away and the scales are able to open. This adaptation is described as serotinous cones. Under extremely warm weather events cones may also open. Jack pine that have evolved in non-fire-dependent ecosystems may lack this adaptation.