Pinus elliottii
Photographs belong to the photographers who allow use for FNPS purposes only. Please contact the photographer for all other uses.
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. |