FNPS Plant Database

Pinus palustris

longleaf pine
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Marjorie Shropshire, Martin County Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: NULL
  • Photo by: NULL

Nomenclature

Common Name:

longleaf pine

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Pinus palustris

Family:

Pinaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

To 120 ft tall by 30-50 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

Fruit Color:

brown

Phenology:

Evergreen. Young pines have an extended grass stage and then shoot up rapidly. Cones produced in spring, wind pollinated, and mature into fall. Long-lived: 200+ years.

Noted For:

Hurricane Wind Resistance

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Shade tree. Woodland tree.

Considerations:

Huge pine cones litter the ground, so not a good tree for a lawn.

Availability:

Quality Nurseries, Native Nurseries, FNPS Plant Sales, Specialty Provider

Propagation:

Seed. Has a multi-year grass phase. Can be acquired from nurseries after grass phase has been completed.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

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

□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■□□□

Somewhat moist, no flooding -to- Very 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, Clay, Loam

Soil pH:

Acidic

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B

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

Don't know your zone? Click here to search by zip code.

Vouchered In:

Distribution
Vouchered
Not vouchered
Selected
Click a county The county name will appear here.
No county distribution is available for this plant yet.
Starting…
Map coded by Melissa Fernandez-de Cespedes (Paynes Prairie Chapter)

Ecology

Wildlife:

Birds, Mammals

Known for its use by squirrels, especially fox squirrels. Birds also eat the nuts.





Old trees in well managed (properly burned) natural sandhill and flatwoods settings are used as cavity trees by red-cockaded woodpeckers.





Often used by perching raptors.  Bald eagles frequently nest in the upper crown.

Native Habitats:

Sandhill, mesic to dry flatwoods.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Most natural longleaf pine forests were cut for timber.

General Comments:

Highly tolerant of fire once established.
FNPS Plant Print

Citations:

Fox, Laurie, and Joel Koci. (2021). Trees and Shrubs that Tolerate Saline Conditions. ( https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/430/430-031/430-031.html ). Accessed 2026. Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA.


Gann, G.D., C.J. Abbott, C.G. Stocking, K.N. Hines, and collaborators. (2001+). Natives For Your Neighborhood. ( https://www.regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/plantdetail.asp?tx=Pinupalu ). Accessed 2026. The Institute for Regional Conservation. Delray Beach, Florida.


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


Huegel, Craig N. (2010). Native Plant Landscaping for Florida Wildlife. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Nelson, Gil. (2003). Florida's Best Landscape Plants: 200 Readily Available Species for Homeowners and Professionals. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


University of Tennessee Extension Service. (2010). Desired pH Range and salt tolerance of common nursery plants. ( https://plantsciences.tennessee.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2021/10/Desired-pH-Range-List.pdf ). Accessed 2026. University of Tennessee Extension, Knoxville.


Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

Request an update