Northern Pitch Pine Pinus rigida
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- PY-nus RIJ-ih-dah
- Description
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This plant grows scattered about mountainous regions in North Carolina at elevations as high as 4,500 ft. It has an open form, irregularly pyramidal when young, and the trunk has a diameter of roughly 1 to 2 ft. The thick, gnarled branches take on a somewhat pendulous form. An irregular, globular form with twisting, gnarled, drooping branches. It has scaly, reddish-brown bark which eventually becomes black. Its stiff yellow-green needles eventually turn dark green. They grow in clusters of 3.
This specimen may bear tufts of needles on the trunk with a broad, rounded or irregular crown of horizontal branches.
It does best in areas with full sun. It prefers moist, well-drained soil but will tolerate a wide range of soils including poor, dry and rocky soil. This tree is salt tolerant and resistant to damage by deer. Although it can be damaged by fire, it will form sprouts from its roots and stumps.
Like many other pine species, Pitch Pine is commonly harvested for lumber, pulp, and other wood products.
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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- 'Little Giant'
Also known as 'Sherman Eddy' - 'Sand Beach'
Low-growing, prostrate form with denesly born, medium green foliage. Found growing along a beach in Maine. - 'Sherman Eddy'
Slow-growing, dwarf rounded form found in mountains of Pa. Brigh green, long needles. Also called 'Little Giant'
- 'Little Giant'
- 'Little Giant', 'Sand Beach', 'Sherman Eddy'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Little Giant'
Also known as 'Sherman Eddy' - 'Sand Beach'
Low-growing, prostrate form with denesly born, medium green foliage. Found growing along a beach in Maine. - 'Sherman Eddy'
Slow-growing, dwarf rounded form found in mountains of Pa. Brigh green, long needles. Also called 'Little Giant'
- 'Little Giant'
- 'Little Giant', 'Sand Beach', 'Sherman Eddy'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Pinus
- Species:
- rigida
- Family:
- Pinaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Lumber and wood pulp. Native Americans used to use pitch as a laxative and turpentine.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Canada, portions of northeast US
- Distribution:
- Canada west to Minnesota south to Georgia east up to Maine
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium 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. In the Appalachia Mountains, wild boar eat the bark and soft outside wood of the roots.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Heat and drought tolerant.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Open
- Pyramidal
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Description:
- Approximately 1 to 3 in. light brown cones in whorls of 3 to 5. The spines on each scale are stiff and curved. After releasing seeds, the cones will stay attached to the three for several years. Fruit displays from September to October.
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Flowers:
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Flowers bloom in May.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Other/more complex
- Leaf Shape:
- Acicular
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 3 to 5 in. rigid, twisted dark yellow-green needles in bundles of 3 (3 per fascicle). Three faces of each needle have many thin, white lines of stomata.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Furrowed
- Ridges
- Shredding
- Bark Plate Shape:
- Irregular
- Bark Description:
- Thick, yellowish-brown plates. Tufts of needles can be found growing on the trunk. Dark scaly young bark, red-brown or yellow-brown thick flat plated deep furrowed mature bark
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Thick, gnarled, and sometimes pendulous.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Slope/Bank
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Winter Garden
- Attracts:
- Moths
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Dry Soil
- Poor Soil
- Salt
