FNPS Plant Database

Pinus clausa

sand pine
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

sand pine

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Pinus clausa

Family:

Pinaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

30-60 ft tall by 20-40 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

NA

Fruit Color:

brown

Phenology:

Evergreen. Cones produce at young age. typically not opening until after fire. Life span typically 60-80 yrs if not burned.

Noted For:

Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Forest plantings for dry sites, specimen tree. Best not planted adjacent to buildings.

Considerations:

Roots are sensitive to disturbance.

Availability:

Native Nurseries, FNPS Plant Sales

Propagation:

Seed.

Light:

Full Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

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Not wet but not extremely dry ---to--- 1Stays wet

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray.

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

Acidic

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B,10A,10B

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.



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Ecology

Wildlife:

Mammals

Squirrels and other animals eat the seeds.

Native Habitats:

Dry sites. Scrub, scrubby flatwoods.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Foliage is fine-textured. Fast growing. Subject to root problems in poorly drained areas.



Highly flammible and old trees are weak.  Think twice about placing a building in a sand pine forest.

Citations:

http://hort.ufl.edu/database/documents/pdf/tree_fact_sheets/pinclaa.pdf.



Haehle, Robert G. and Joan Brookwell.  1999.  Native Florida Plants.  Gulf Publishing Company.  Houston, TX.



Institute for Regional Conservation.  Accessed 2021.  Natives for Your Neighborhood.   https://www.regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/plantdetail.asp?tx=Pinuclau.



Nelson, Gil.  2003.  Florida's Best Landscape Plants. Association of Florida Native Nurseries.



Osorio, Rufino. 2001. A gardener's guide to Florida's native Plants.  University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.



Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. 2021. Atlas of Florida Plants ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ).  Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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