Pinus palustris
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- PY-nus pal-US-triss
- Description
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Longleaf Pine is an evergreen gymnosperm tree that may grow 60 to 120 feet tall. The tree has 8- to 18-inch slender and feathery needles in clusters of 3. The needle clusters tend to be tufted at the end of branches. This tree produces numerous, dense, long-needled fascicles. As the tree ages, the bark thickens forming irregular, flaky plates. In spring, long, yellow-red, male and oval, purple, female flowers mature. The tree produces both a purple-blue male cone and a dark purple female cone.
The Longleaf pine does best in full sun. It grows well in well-drained sandy or clay soils in full sun. It is a difficult tree to transplant and has a slow growth rate. This tree is susceptible to ice and storm damage, and is also not tolerant of lightning, high winds or drought. It is difficult to transplant. It grows in "grass-like" stage for the first 5 years, staying at a very short size. Seeds need to be exposed to fire before germination can occur.
It has historically been used for naval purposes, specifically for pitch, tar, resin, and turpentine, and is still used for lumber today. The wood is known for its heaviness, strength, and durability. This plant can be utilized as a specimen plant. Needles can be used as pine mulch, but fallen shoots with needles can be a litter problem. This plant has no serious pest/disease problems in landscapes.
The largest cone in the Eastern US is 6-10 in. red-brown ovoid to conical shape with umbo armed with curved prickle.
Fire Risk: This plant has a high flammability rating and should not be planted within the defensible space of your home. Select plants with a low flammability rating for the sites nearest your home.
Quick ID Hints:
- Pine tree with elongated needles in threes
- Profile Video:
- 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:
- palustris
- Family:
- Pinaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Used as lumber, poles, pine straw and is the state tree of NC. Sap was used to make tar to seal the wood of boats.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southern US
- Distribution:
- VA west to TX south to FL
- Fire Risk Rating:
- high flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- The Longleaf pine provides winter cover. Fox and gray squirrels, quail, brown-headed nuthatches, mourning doves, and turkeys eat the seeds. Red-cockaded woodpeckers excavate cavities in the living specimens of this species.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 60 ft. 0 in. - 120 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Open
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Purple/Lavender
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Good Dried
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Produces a purple-blue male cone and a dark purple female cone that is large, ovoid-oblong, and later turns brown. In their second year, the now mature female cones are 6-15 in. long and have spines at the tips of the scales. They drop their seeds in September to Octobe and fall off the tree soon after. Some of the largest cones among the pine species.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Catkin
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- From March to April, the Longleaf pine will produce long yellow-red male and oval purple female flowers. Cylindrical 1.5-2 in long silver-white fringed buds
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- White
- Leaf Feel:
- Slippery
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Other/more complex
- Leaf Shape:
- Acicular
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are needles clustered on dwarf shoots (fascicles) in threes. They are long, 6-12", pliable, have finely serrulate margins, and are bright green. Buds are silvery-white and aid in the identification of this tree. These "candles" of new growth are anywhere from 3-15 in long.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Light Gray
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Peeling
- Shredding
- Bark Plate Shape:
- Irregular
- Bark Description:
- As the tree ages, the orange-brown to reddish-brown bark thickens forming irregular, flaky plates.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Bud Terminal:
- Cluster of terminal buds
- Stem Description:
- The branches tend to be gnarled or twisted.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Problems:
- Messy
