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Pinus pungens

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
PY-nus PUN-gens
Description

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:
Tags:
#evergreen#native tree#NC native#nighttime garden#Braham Arboretum#larval host plant#food source fall#food source herbage#bird friendly#food source hard mast fruit#mammals#butterfly friendly#Audubon#wind damage prone#imperial moth#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#native tree#NC native#nighttime garden#Braham Arboretum#larval host plant#food source fall#food source herbage#bird friendly#food source hard mast fruit#mammals#butterfly friendly#Audubon#wind damage prone#imperial moth#wildlife friendly
  • 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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Native Plant
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Irregular
    Spreading
  • 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
  • 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.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Description:
    No flowers
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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