Pinus strobus 'Stowe Pillar' is a very narrow columnar form of eastern white pine - purportedly even narrower 'Fastigata'. It's tight branching makes it more resistant than the species to breaking under heavy, wet snow load. Ideal for tight spaces or as a vertical element that is less dense or rigid than the junipers or Chamaecyparis cultivars that often serve that purpose. After 10 years of growth, a mature specimen will measure 8 to 12 feet (2.5 - 4 m) tall and 1-third as wide, an annual growth rate of around 12 inches (30 cm).
Despite reports of stronger-than-typical branching, a consistent program of candling and pruning will help to keep the plant "in bounds" and even more resistant to splaying under a load of ice and snow. This practice will also prevent the development of a preponderance of bare branches as plants age.
This cultivar originated as a unique form on a tree found growing in the wild by Greg Williams of Kate Brook Nursery, Wolcott, Vermont, which is not far from the well-known ski resort, Stowe Mountain.
