Swamp Pine Pinus elliottii
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- PY-nus el-ee-OT-ee-eye
- Description
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Slash Pine is a tall slender pine with a straight to contorted trunk and a conical to egg-shaped crown that becomes rounded or flattened at maturity. It grows in the infertile soils of sandhills, flatwoods, and near wet lowlands, such as swamps and ponds. It is an important lumber tree due to its strong wood and fast growth and is cultivated as such.
This tree can be used in home landscapes as a specimen or in groups or in naturalized areas but be careful with placement as it will lose its lower limbs which die and drop. It also does well in well-drained sites along ponds or streams.
Problems: Chlorosis of the leaves will occur in basic soils or irrigation with basic water. Fusiform rust, root rot and Fusarium moniliforme are the most serious pest of slash pines. Insects pests are weevils and sawflies. This tree is susceptible to wind damage.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- var. densa
Found S. Florida, S. America, Guatemala, W. Indes. Dense heart wood. - var. elliottii
Found in the SE USA, from North Carolina to Texas
- var. densa
- var. densa, var. elliottii
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- var. densa
Found S. Florida, S. America, Guatemala, W. Indes. Dense heart wood. - var. elliottii
Found in the SE USA, from North Carolina to Texas
- var. densa
- var. densa, var. elliottii
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Pinus
- Species:
- elliottii
- Family:
- Pinaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Important lumber tree. Russian used to produce steroids from pine pulp extractives in 1968 as well as turpentine used in perfumery, cigarettes, cosmetic, and toilet products.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- SE USA
- Distribution:
- AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC, TX
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- 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. The seeds are an excellent food source for gray and fox squirrels and wild turkey. The dense foliage also provides cover and shelter for wildlife.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Oval
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Not a fruit a cone. 3-6 inch elongated, oval, glossy brown cone has thin scales and fine prickles
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Winter
- Flower Description:
- No flowers, pollen cones are cylindrical-shaped, 1.2 to 1.6 inches long, and red to purplish in color. Seed cones are borne singly or in pairs and are ovoid or ovoid-cylindric when open. Cones measure 3-6 inches long, colored light reddish-brown and mature in 2 years.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Leaf Shape:
- Acicular
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- 5-11 in long flexible dark blue-green needles are borne 2-3 per fascicle.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Light Brown
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Furrowed
- Papery
- Patchy
- Scaly
- Bark Plate Shape:
- Irregular
- Rectangle
- Bark Description:
- Red-brown and furrowed when young becoming very platy bark broken into irregular blocks scaly and flaking as it ages.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Orange
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Twigs are stout, rough and scaly, orange-brown, aging darker brown.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Lawn
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Recreational Play Area
- Slope/Bank
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Shade Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Barrier
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Shade Tree
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Moths
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Poor Soil
- Salt
