Southern Pine Pinus palustris
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- PY-nus pal-US-triss
- Description
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The longleaf pine is an evergreen, gymnosperm tree in the Pinaceae (pine) family that may grow 60 to 120 feet tall with short, stout, spare branches forming an open, irregular crown. It is native to the southern United States and ranges from Virginia west to Texas and south to Florida. The tree produces both a purple-blue male cone and a dark purple female cone. The cones are the largest of any pine in eastern North America.
The longleaf pine does best in full sun and prefers well-drained, acidic, sandy or clay soils. This tree is difficult to transplant because it rapidly produces a deep taproot. It grows in a "grass-like" stage for the first five years, staying very short in height but allowing the stem to grow in thickness. 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. It is home to the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker and also provides food and winter cover for other wildlife.
This tree can be used as a specimen plant or in a mass planting to create a naturalized area. Needles can be used as pine mulch, but fallen shoots with needles can be a litter problem.
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
Insect, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This tree is susceptible to wind, ice, and storm damage. However, it has no serious pest or disease problems in landscapes.
- 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:
- 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 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, 9a, 9b
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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:
- No fruits. 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 October 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 Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- No flowers. From March to April, the Longleaf pine will produce long yellow-red male and oval purple female strobili. 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
- Nighttime Garden
- Winter Garden
- Attracts:
- Moths
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Problems:
- Messy
