ArborNote’s Tree of the Week was chosen by Julie, and she chose the Korean Red Pine (Pinus densiflora). It has a native range that includes Japan, the Korean peninsula, northeastern China, and the extreme southeast of Russia in Siberia. It is the unofficial national tree of South Korea. It is one of the traditional ten symbols of longevity, as the red pine stays green through harsh winters and grows out of rocky, barren mountain cracks. During the Joseon Dynasty, the royal court protected and managed designated pine forests to supply wood for naval warships and fuel for white porcelain kilns. Historical royal palaces and sacred Buddhist temples were heavily built using durable, rot-resistant Korean red pine timber. The tree is also explicitly referenced in the lyrics of the South Korean national anthem!