Pine trees grow at a fast rate. In the wild, pines can grow over 10 feet in the first year. They don't grow as tall as other tree species, however, because they only live 50-100 years.

Trees with needles are usually evergreens and have a long, cone-like shape. Pines are evergreen trees, which means they don't lose all their needles in the fall like deciduous trees do.

The pine cone is what makes a pine tree so distinctive. Each pine cone looks like spiraled scales that protect the seeds and help them disperse from the mother tree when dropped. Pine cones are also very colorful -- some are red and others are green or blue.

Pine trees provide food for many animals, including deer and squirrels, that eat the young cones full of seeds. Pine sap is actually used to make a number of household products including Vaseline and soap. Pine trees have been used for thousands of years as lumber to build homes, furniture and more.*