This might be a long shot or it might be common knowledge to someone other than me.

I went on a road trip from Iowa to the Lansing, Michigan area yesterday. Along the way, we started to see many pine trees along the highway. There were many small pines around them that appeared to be the same variety. They were spaced very randomly and crowded around the larger trees which lead me to believe that they were volunteers and not planted.

Would anyone have an idea what variety or varieties this might be ? I'm thinking that a person could start a few and then transplant the volunteers. I'm also thinking that a person might regret planting them if they started to take over.

Any help would be appreciated.

This sounds like White Pine. That is very common. Nearly 38 years ago when my bride and I bought this place, the field across the road was an aging hayfield that a neighbor still cut once or twice per year to feed his herd of beefalo. It was even complete with meadowlarks, bobolinks, and thirteen-lined ground squirrels. I have many huge old White pine in my front yard......today the "field" across the road is about 50% covered in 5 foot to maybe 30+ foot tall White Pine. I haven't seen a meadowlark, bobolink, or ground squirrel across the road in 20 years.

I agree with J.Morse. I have seen this with white pines many times in the Poconos Mountains of northeast PA.

One giant mother tree with dozens of younger trees scattered around, most of them on the downwind side of the prevailing wind.

Around here the cedars are everywhere.

Thanks everyone. I would have liked to stop and tried to identify them but the roads were pretty bad. We were on a quick run up, pick up something and return home. I had to work Sunday. Left at 05:45 and was back home at 22:15. 1009 miles round trip.

Michigan has a lot of Jack Pine - could be that also

Most likely Cedars, They can grow anywhere and will. Any fields, Pasture ,etc, anywhere, will grow cedars if left alone.

My guess would be red cedar.

I would guess red cedars. There is a bunch along those wide right of ways in that area.

If the larger (parent trees had longer needles and bushier canopies, probably white pine, if the parent trees were smaller, tighter canopies and shorter needles probablly Jack pine. Also Red or Norway pines historically were planted along road ways, so that is a possibility as well.

Bryce

All pine trees will grow pine cones. Those pine cones have seeds in them. Every fall and winter they open up a throw seeds about 10 to 15 feet from the base. I have 22 acres where we left pine trees every 30 feet. The entire 22 acres is now lobloly pines about 15 ft tall and 3 or 4 inches apart.most will die off but enough will survive to grow a new forrest.