The growth range of the species is larger than that of any other softwood. It can be found from Scotland to the Pacific Coast of Siberia, from Norway to Spain, from Arctic Siberia to Mongolia and also in the Mediterranean region. The tree grows up to 10 – 30 m (max 40 m). Scots pine wood from the Nordic countries (Finland, Sweden, Norway) is a species for saw milling with a large volume of lumber produced in Scandinavia. Maritime pine is naturally growing in the west of the Mediterranean basin and is largely used in France as plantation tree.
Wood description
Pines have distinct yellowish white sapwood and reddish heartwood. Heartwood is clearly demarcated from sapwood. Slow growing trees (esp. Nordic Scots pine) have a fine texture, faster growing ones show medium textures (Maritime pines can also have a coarse texture). Slow grown Nordic pine is very easy to machine to a smooth surface. Knots are tightly fixed in the timber and normally limited in size. The big red knots give a decorative character to the timber. All pines have a lot of resin canals. The wood is soft, medium in weight and has medium density. The strength properties are good. Sawing and machining is easy, gluing can be difficult depending on the percentage of resin in the wood.
Common uses
Pine is a building and construction timber, also used for joinery and interiors (doors, parquets, windows) and furniture.