The white pine cultivar named 'Louie' is considered by many conifer growers to be the best of the yellow-needled versions of North America's native eastern white pine (Pinus strobus). Provided it grows in full sun, 'Louie' maintains its yellow color all year.
Common name: 'Louie' golden white pine
Botanical name: Pinus strobus 'Louie'
Related: 'Louie' pine made our list of great conifers for gardens. See more of our favorites in "Conifers for Gardens: Our Top 11."
Exposure: Full sun
Foliage: Long, soft, thin needles are yellow year-round. The winter color is a brilliant gold, while in summer the foliage turns a paler yellow. The needles toward the interior of the tree tend to look more green, which provides good contrast for the brightness at the branch tips. (Those interior needles are green because they're shaded by the tree's own branches; sun prompts the best golden color from 'Louie'.) Evergreen.
Related: For another fun white pine, but with a different shape and color, check out 'Mini Twists'!
Habit: 'Louie' golden white pine grows into a dense cone shape, reaching 25 feet tall and 12 feet wide at the base.
Origin: Pinus strobus is a species native to much of eastern North America. 'Louie' was found as a seedling growing in Vermont in the early 1990s.
How to grow it: Provide average, well-draining soil. Site in full sun for the best yellow color. This tree is a fairly fast grower and it has the potential to become large, like the species. To keep it more compact, tip prune it annually once growth begins in spring. Also known as candle pruning, tip pruning a pine entails pinching back new growth at the tips of the branches (which resemble candles) before the needles begin to expand. Snip each candle back by a third or a half of its length.
This plant can take some drought once established, but in its favored position of full sun it may need supplemental water during dry spells. USDA Zones 4–8.
Related: Evergreens like 'Louie' pine can be at risk of damage from winter sun and wind, so follow the tips in "Protect Trees and Shrubs for Winter."
