Pine trees are special because they stay green all year long, even in the cold, snowy winter! Instead of flat leaves, they have long, thin needles that feel a bit prickly. These needles are actually the pine tree’s leaves, and they are shaped that way so snow slides right off them. Pine trees can live for a very long time. The oldest pine tree in the world, called “Methuselah,” is about 4,600 years old, which means it was already growing when the ancient pyramids were being built in Egypt!
Pine trees grow pinecones that hold their seeds inside. Here is a cool fact: pinecones are really smart! They open up on dry, sunny days so the wind can carry their seeds far away, but they close up tight on rainy days to keep the seeds safe and dry. Some pinecones can stay on a tree for more than 10 years before falling to the ground. When you walk near a pine tree, you might smell a very fresh, woodsy scent that many people love. The yummy pine nuts that some people eat in salads and cooking actually come from inside pinecones!