Pinus pungens
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- PY-nus PUN-gens
- Description
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Table Mountain Pine is a pine tree native to the Appalachian Mountains. It is typically a medium-sized tree reaching 65 feet with irregular crown and a short trunk with a diameter of 1-1.5'. It is found growing on mountains either in small stands or singly on dry, rocky slopes. The tree can begin producing cones as young as 5 years of age.
It is occasionally used as an ornamental but may be difficult to find.
Insect, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This tree is susceptible to wind damage.
- 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:
- pungens
- Family:
- Pinaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The wood is used for lumber, pulp, and fuel wood
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern U.S.A., NC
- Distribution:
- Pennsylvania west to Illinois south to Georgia
- 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. This plant attracts birds, butterflies, moths, and mammals.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Drought tolerant.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Irregular
- Spreading
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- The light brown, 2.5-3" long, stout seed cones most commonly grow in clusters of three to four and a stemless or nearly so. They have a glossy surface and a knobby appearance, each scale tipped with a hooked spine. They vary on when they open, sometimes soon after ripening and other times after two to three years. They can persist on the tree for several years. Fruit displays from September to October.
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- No flowers
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Other/more complex
- Leaf Shape:
- Acicular
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The twisted, stiff, yellow-green needles have fine stomatal lines, are roughly 1.5-2.5" long and in closely clustered bundles of 2. They last two to three years.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Ridges
- Scaly
- Bark Plate Shape:
- Irregular
- Bark Description:
- The irregularly plated, dark brown bark is covered with small, red-tinged scales.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Orange
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Twigs are orange-brown in color; buds are narrowly ovoid, light brown and often resinous.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Attracts:
- Moths
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
