Pinus palustris
Common Name(s):
- Description
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The Pinus palustris or Longleaf Pine is an evergreen tree that may grow 80 to 120 feet tall. This tree has long, slender, feathery needles in clusters of 3. The needle clusters tend to be tufted at the end of the branches.
It is a difficult tree to transplant. This tree is susceptible to ice and storm damage, and is also not tolerant of lightning, high winds or drought. It grows in "grass like" stage for the first 5 years.
- Cultivars:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Pinus
- Species:
- palustris
- Family:
- Pinaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southern US
- 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 Enhancement
- Dimensions:
- Height: 80 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
- 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 Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7b, 8b, 8a, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Good Dried
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Produces a purple-blue male cone and a dark purple female cone.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Catkin
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- In the spring, the Longleaf pine will produce long yellow-red male and oval purple female flowers.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Slippery
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves of the Longleaf pine are 8 to 18-inch needles that grow in clusters of 3.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Peeling
- Bark Plate Shape:
- Irregular
- Bark Description:
- As the tree ages, the bark thickens forming irregular, flaky plates.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Bud Terminal:
- Cluster of terminal buds
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Problems:
- Messy
- Similar plants:
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Abies fraseri
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Pinus strobus 'Nana'
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Viburnum macrocephalum
