Pinus strobus is characterised by needles in bundles of five, and pendant female cones with sharply outcurved scale tips. The feathery leaves-needles are dark green in colour on each side, c 12 cm long (max 15 cm), and with fine white lines sometimes apparent on their inner surfaces.

Bhutan Pine (P. wallichiana).  The two species can be very similar, although Bhutan Pine usually has longer, more drooping needles and longer, pendent cones often encrusted with resin - but the lengths of cones/needles overlap

Leaves in fives, 5-14cm, cones 8-20cm; the tips of the cone scales only slightly thickened.  Twigs have minute hairs at base of short shoots, but this feature is difficult to see and photograph

Photos of whole tree; photo of shoot and cones, with details of length of cones and needles.  It may not be possible to ID from a photo; retention of a specimen of the shoot is recommended

Usually occurs in Britain as a planted tree in parks and gardens.

All year round.

Evergreen tree.

Widespread but occasional in Britain where it is usually found as a planted tree. Native to eastern North America it was first introduced to the UK by Lord Weymouth (for whom it is named) on his estate at Longleat, south of Bath, in the early 18th Century.

Uncommon or rarely recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland, where it is usually found as a planted tree. It was not recorded in the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire.