Walter's Pine Pinus glabra
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- PY-nus GLAY-bruh
- Description
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Spruce pine is an evergreen tree in the Pinaceae family that is native from SC south to FL and west to LA. It is often found growing in wetland sites and is different from other pines as it doesn't tend to grow in pine stands. It can grow up to 80 feet tall but is usually 40-50 feet in height. It starts producing cones at 10 years of age.
Spruce pine has a beautiful oval-rounded crown with dark green needles. The trunk can be straight but is often bent and twisted if growing in the understory. It will grow in a variety of locations with the exception of areas with fine soils and needs consistent moist to wet soils The seed cones persist on the tree for 2-3 years, providing food for wildlife.
Use this tree in moist to wet sites as along streams or ponds. It makes a good windbreak and provides shade. This variety of pine is also used as a Christmas tree.
Insect, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This tree is susceptible to wind damage. Canker diseases may occasionally cause dieback. Infected branches can be pruned.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Pinus
- Species:
- glabra
- Family:
- Pinaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Used as bonsai and christmas tree
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeast USA
- Distribution:
- Southern SC west to southern LA to northern FL
- Fire Risk Rating:
- high 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. Squirrels and other mammals eat the seeds along with the Northern bobwhite.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 80 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Oval
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Drainage:
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Seed cones are 2.5-5 inches long, are brown at maturity and persist on the tree 2-3 years. Pollen cones are purplish brown, occur in clusters at the end of twigs and are higher on the tree than the seed cones
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- No flowers
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- 2 to 4 in. slightly twisted, dark green needles in bundles of 2 per fascicle
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Ridges
- Shredding
- Bark Description:
- Greyish brown bark, becoming dark reddish brown and scaly with maturity.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Slender, smooth, colored purple-red to red-brown. Turn gray with age.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Recreational Play Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Nighttime Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Barrier
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Shade Tree
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Moths
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
