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Florida Spruce Pine Pinus clausa

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
PY-nus KLAW-suh
Description

Sand Pine is an evergreen coniferous tree that grows in Florida and Alabama on strongly acidic sandy soils of the coast. It is an important part of the Florida scrub ecosystem and provides habitat for wildlife. This tree grows up to 65 ft tall, has dense spreading to ascending branches that are poorly self-pruning and a rounded to irregular crown. Because they grow in areas where hurricanes occur, they are often lean to one side. It is one of the shorter-lived pines, up to 60 years.

Insect, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  This tree is susceptible to wind damage.  

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#drought tolerant#large tree#needled evergreen#nighttime garden#Braham Arboretum#poor soils tolerant#larval host plant#evergreen tree#sandy soils tolerant#bird friendly#mammals#wind damage prone#imperial moth#coastal plant#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#drought tolerant#large tree#needled evergreen#nighttime garden#Braham Arboretum#poor soils tolerant#larval host plant#evergreen tree#sandy soils tolerant#bird friendly#mammals#wind damage prone#imperial moth#coastal plant#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Pinus
    Species:
    clausa
    Family:
    Pinaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    It is used for pulp wood, making ship masts and as christmas trees.
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    U.S.A., AL and FL
    Distribution:
    AL, FL
    Wildlife Value:
    This plant supports Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed. Provides cover for wildlife. Seeds are eaten by birds and small mammals.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Irregular
    Rounded
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Very Dry
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Length:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Description:
    2-3.5 inch, armed with short stout prickles, reddish-brown to grey-brown oval pollen cone. Seed cones are red-brown.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Purple/Lavender
    Flower Description:
    No flowers
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Needles
    Leaf Shape:
    Filiform
    Linear
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    2-4 inch yellow-green needles are 2 per fascicle with twisted margins that are finely serrated. The needles last 2-3 years.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Brown
    Dark Gray
    Red/Burgundy
    Surface/Attachment:
    Patchy
    Smooth
    Bark Description:
    Thin reddish brown to grey-brown smooth bark that eventually developing scaly patches. Gray to gray-brown, furrowed, with narrow, flat, irregular ridges, upper part of the trunk is red-brown platy and becoming smooth as it reaches the branches
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Buds:
    Scaly
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    Spreading to ascending poor job of self-pruning. Purple to red-brown aging to gray and smooth. Buds are cylindric purple-brown with white fringed scales.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Landscape Theme:
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Nighttime Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Attracts:
    Moths
    Small Mammals
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Dry Soil
    Heat
    Poor Soil
    Problems:
    Short-lived