Pinus palustris

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Longleaf Pine

Pinaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:Tree
Size:To 120 ft tall by 30-50 ft wide
Life Span:Long-lived perennial
Flower Color:NA
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.
Propagation:Seed. Has a multi-year grass phase. Can be acquired from nurseries after grass phase has been completed.
Availability:Native nurseries, FNPS plant sales, Quality nurseries, Seed, Specialty providers
Light: Full Sun,  Part Shade
Moisture Tolerance:
always floodedextremely dry
 (Somewhat moist, no flooding ----- to ----- Very long very dry periods)
Moisture Tolerance: Somewhat moist, no flooding ----- to ----- Very long very dry periods
Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Salt Spray/ Salty Soil Tolerance:Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
Soil or other substrate:Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH:Acidic

Ecology

Wildlife:
  

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.

Insects:
Native Habitats:Sandhill, mesic to dry flatwoods.

Distribution and Planting Zones

Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones

Suitable to grow in:
8A 8B 9A 9B 

USDA zones are based on minimum winter temperatures

Comments

Ethnobotany:Most natural longleaf pine forests were cut for timber.
General Comments:Highly tolerant of fire once established.