Differences in development of Scots pine in a European birch shelterwood and on a clear‐felled area in northern Sweden were examined 20 years after the pines were planted. Different light conditions and temperature climate in the two stand types are not the main causes for differences in development of the Scots pine. Hypotheses that competition from the birches in the shelterwood restricts the development of the pine seedlings soon after planting and that competition between trees is strongly related to distance are supported.