Antique Heart Pine

Heart Pine refers to the heartwood of the pine tree, which is the non-living center of the tree trunk. The heartwood from the pine tree, heart pine, is preferred by woodworkers and builders due to its strength, hardness and golden red coloration. These pine trees, 80 to 120 feet tall, require 100 to 150 years to become full size and can live up to 500 years. An inch of heart pine requires 30 years growth. The source of much of the available heart pine found on the market is longleaf pine from old buildings. Currently heart pine for building and woodworking is procured by reclaiming old lumber and recovering logs, felled pre-1900, from rivers.