It sometimes forms pure stands, but is usually found alongside hemlock, spruces and various deciduous species.
The thin bark of the young individuals makes them susceptible to forest fires. However, the bark of the older specimens is heat resistant and protects them from fire. They become a seed bank for the next generation. The fire also allows them to thrive on a nourishing substrate and eliminate the other plants that can compete with the white pine seedlings.
This pine has two considerate pests: the white pine blister rust, a fungus, and an insect, the white pine weevil. Furthermore, the natural populations of white pine have been markedly reduced by intense forestry operations.