Pinus elliottii

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Slash Pine

Pinaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:Tree
Size:80-100  (120) ft tall by 20-60 ft wide
Life Span:Long-lived perennial
Flower Color:NA
Fruit Color:Brown
Phenology:Evergreen. Cones appear in spring and ripen into fall. Can be long-lived.
Noted for:Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:Shade tree. Forest tree -- this is one of the most highly used species for timber production.
Propagation:Seed.
Availability:Native nurseries, FNPS plant sales, Quality nurseries, Specialty providers
Light: Full Sun,  Part Shade
Moisture Tolerance:
always floodedextremely dry
 (Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Somewhat long very dry periods)
Moisture Tolerance: Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Somewhat long very dry periods
Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:Tolerant of inundation with brackish water
Salt Spray/ Salty Soil Tolerance:Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray. Exposure to salt spray would be uncommon (major storms).
Soil or other substrate:Loam, Lime rock, Sand
Soil pH:Acidic

Ecology

Wildlife:
 

Squirrels and other animals eat the seeds. 

In southern Florida, old trees are known to support red-cockaded woodpeckers.

Insects:
Native Habitats:Moist sites. Low flatwoods, swamp edges, pine rockland, cutthroat seeps. Often cultivated in dry sites.

Distribution and Planting Zones

Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones

Suitable to grow in:
10A 10B 11 8A 8B 9A 9B 

USDA zones are based on minimum winter temperatures

Comments

General Comments:

Highly adaptable. While frequently in moist areas, broadly tolerant of dryness. Has been planted extensively for timber.

This tree occurs throughout Florida and has both southern and northern varieties with the southern form being more tolerant of fire.

Recent research on sea level rise indicates that significant salinity of water in the root zone will eliminate the species.  The area occupied by slash pine in the keys is shrinking.

Many places with slash pine plantations were formerly longleaf pine forests.  Many of these sites are too dry for optimal health of slash pine.