Monday, November 2, 2026

Question: One towering evergreen fueled Michigan’s 19th-century lumber boom and later became the official state tree. What is it?

Answer: The white pine. The Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) was named Michigan’s official state tree in 1955, honoring its role in the state’s lumber industry. In the late 1800s, Michigan led the nation in lumber production, and the tall, straight, easy-to-work white pine was the backbone of that boom.