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Possum Pine Pinus virginiana

Phonetic Spelling
PY-nus vir-jin-ee-AN-uh
Description

Virginia pine is a needled evergreen tree in the pine family (Pinaceae) and is native to much of the eastern half of the United States. It tends to grow in pure stands rather than in mixed groups and is commonly found in old fields at high elevations in the piedmont and mountain regions. It grows as a broad, open pyramid when young, becoming flat-topped and horizontal with age with no prominent central leader. It has a slow growth rate and is small compared to other pines, growing 40 to 80 ft. tall and 10 to 30 feet wide with a trunk diameter of 8 to 14 inches. 

It grows best in sites with full sun, well-drained soil, and sandy acidic loam, although it grows well even in eroded and poor, dry soils, including clay soils. It is deer resistant and is moderately pollution tolerant for a pine. 

This tree is not particularly ornamental, but foliage can be used in Christmas decorations and the tree itself can be used as a Christmas tree, although it requires selective pruning for shape. Unlike other pines, Virginia pine is not often used for lumber due to its knotty wood and tendency to warp with moisture. However, its long fibers make it great for use as a source of wood pulp.

This plant works well as a specimen plant in woodland landscapes as it has an interesting, scraggly form and numerous persistent cones. It is also suitable for native, nighttime, and winter gardens. The seeds are a food source for many birds.  It is also a host plant for the larvae of the Imperial moth (Eacles imperialis).

Quick ID Hints:

  • Pine tree with no central leader

  • Needles in twos, twisted, short

  • Young twigs glaucous

  • Cones small, long persisting on branches

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  This tree is susceptible to wind damage.  Some susceptibility to pitch canker. This plant has numerous pest and disease problems.

VIDEO Created by Homegrown featuring Jeff Owen, Area Extension Forestry Specialist for NC State Extension

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Wates Golden'
    Yellow needles, winter interest
'Wates Golden'
Tags:
#evergreen#full sun tolerant#slow growing#moth caterpillar host#conifer#winter interest#showy fruits#NC native#deer resistant#nighttime garden#Braham Arboretum#fantz#larval host plant#food source fall#food source herbage#clay soils tolerant#bird friendly#food source hard mast fruit#mammals#Christmas trees#Christmas decorations#Audubon#wind damage prone#imperial moth#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Wates Golden'
    Yellow needles, winter interest
'Wates Golden'
Tags:
#evergreen#full sun tolerant#slow growing#moth caterpillar host#conifer#winter interest#showy fruits#NC native#deer resistant#nighttime garden#Braham Arboretum#fantz#larval host plant#food source fall#food source herbage#clay soils tolerant#bird friendly#food source hard mast fruit#mammals#Christmas trees#Christmas decorations#Audubon#wind damage prone#imperial moth#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Pinus
    Species:
    virginiana
    Family:
    Pinaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    USA, higher elevations on the eastern portion of the country
    Distribution:
    Penn south west to Missouri south to Mississippi east 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. Seeds are eaten by birds. This tree is resistant to damage by deer.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 80 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Open
    Pyramidal
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    12-24 feet
    24-60 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Length:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Description:
    1.5 to 3 in. reddish-brown, short-stalked to subsessile, persistent, oblong-conical, blunt, spiny-scaled cones in clusters of 2 to 4. They ripen after two years and old cones persist on the tree. Yellow to red curved prickle female seed cone. Umbo is a sharp prickle. Fruit displays from September to November.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Description:
    Cylindrical and yellow male pollen cones bloom from March to May.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Needles
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Other/more complex
    Leaf Shape:
    Acicular
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves are needles clustered on dwarf shoots (fascicles) in twos. They are short in length (1.5-3" long), are twisting, stout, minutely toothed, have an apex that is sharp-pointed, and are yellowish-green to dark green in color.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Brown
    Dark Gray
    Orange
    Red/Burgundy
    Surface/Attachment:
    Ridges
    Shaggy
    Bark Description:
    Orange-brown scaly bark on young trees and thin small scaly plates with maturity.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Twigs bear appressed scale leaves with axillary fascicles of needles. Young twigs are pale glaucous.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Nighttime Garden
    Rock Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Moths
    Small Mammals
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Dry Soil
    Erosion
    Pollution