FNPS Plant Database

Pinus echinata

shortleaf pine

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Nomenclature

Common Name:

shortleaf pine

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Pinus echinata

Family:

Pinaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

80-100 (120) ft tall

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

NA

Fruit Color:

brown

Phenology:

evergreen

Noted For:

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Shade tree. Forest tree.

Considerations:

Availability:

Native Nurseries, Specialty Provider

Propagation:

Seed.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

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

Coming Soon!

Somewhat moist, no flooding ---to--- Somewhat long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Loam

Soil pH:

Acidic

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B

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



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Ecology

Wildlife:

Birds, Mammals

Squirrels and other animals eat the seeds. 





The USDA Forest Service indicates that it can be a cavity tree for red-cockaded woodpeckers.

Native Habitats:

Dry uplands, old fields.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

The range of shortleaf pine extends north into New Jersey and Pennsylvania (maybe further north), and west into Texas and Oklahoma.  It has some oddities in the BONAP maps that suggest that it has been poorly documented with herbarium specimens in Georgia.  Based on what we know from BONAP and ISB, the range in north Florida is likely continuous, but likely  does not extend down to the Gulf Coast.  Given land uses, it may once of been more frequent and included counties from which there are no herbarium specimens.  This pine has been used commercially for timber production, especially north of Florida. 



Overall, it appears appropriate to plant this species in appropriate soil conditions anywhere in the Florida panhandle and east to Columbia County.

Citations:

BONAP



https://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/misc/ag_654/volume_1/pinus/echinata.htm http://shortleafpine.net/why-shortleaf/silvics



Huegel, Craig, N.  2010.  Native plant landscaping for Florida wildlife.  University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL. (wildlife uses)



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



University of Tennessee Extension Service.  Desired Ph Range and salt tolerance of common nursery plants.    https://extension.tennessee.edu/mtnpi/Documents/handouts/Fertility/Desired-pH-Range-List.pdf   accessed 2021.



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

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