Pinus palustris: Longleaf Pine
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Pinus palustris: Longleaf Pine

   

Pinus palustris: Longleaf Pine1

Edward F. Gilman and Dennis G. Watson2

Introduction

This beautiful, native North American pine tree is capable of reaching 80 to 125 feet in height with a 30 to 40-foot-spread but is more often seen smaller. It is usually saved on a construction site for use as a specimen in the landscape or for providing dappled shade. Be sure to protect the area beneath the dripline from heavy equipment during construction. Longleaf Pine stays in its tufted, grass-like stage for five to seven years after germinating, growing very slowly while it develops a root system, then takes off at a moderate rate. The bright green, evergreen needles are up to 14 inches long and very flexible, giving an almost weeping effect to the tree. A distinctive characteristic of Longleaf Pine is the new growth clusters, or buds, which are silvery white during the winter. The inconspicuous spring flowers are followed by a large, spiny cone, 6 to 10 inches long, which persist on the tree for a couple of years.

Figure 1. Young Pinus palustris: Longleaf Pine

General Information

Scientific name: Pinus palustris
Pronunciation: PIE-nus pal-US-triss
Common name(s): Longleaf Pine
Family: Pinaceae
USDA hardiness zones: 7A through 10A (Fig. 2)
Origin: native to North America
Invasive potential: little invasive potential
Uses: reclamation; specimen; shade
Availability: somewhat available, may have to go out of the region to find the tree
Figure 2. Range

Description

Height: 60 to 80 feet
Spread: 30 to 40 feet
Crown uniformity: irregular
Crown shape: oval
Crown density: open
Growth rate: fast
Texture: fine

Foliage

Leaf arrangement: spiral (Fig. 3)
Leaf type: simple
Leaf margin: entire
Leaf shape: needle-like (filiform)
Leaf venation: parallel
Leaf type and persistence: needled evergreen, evergreen, fragrant
Leaf blade length: 8 to 12 inches, 12 to 18 inches
Leaf color: green
Fall color: no color change
Fall characteristic: not showy

Flower

Flower color: yellow
Flower characteristics: not showy

Fruit

Fruit shape: elongated, cone
Fruit length: 6 to 12 inches
Fruit covering: dry or hard
Fruit color: brown
Fruit characteristics: attracts squirrels/mammals; showy; fruit/leaves a litter problem

Trunk and Branches

Trunk/bark/branches: branches droop; showy; typically one trunk; thorns
Pruning requirement: little required
Breakage: susceptible to breakage
Current year twig color: brown
Current year twig thickness: very thick
Wood specific gravity: 0.59

Culture

Light requirement: full sun
Soil tolerances: clay; sand; loam; acidic; slightly alkaline; well-drained
Drought tolerance: high
Aerosol salt tolerance: high

Other

Roots: not a problem
Winter interest: no
Outstanding tree: yes
Ozone sensitivity: unknown
Verticillium wilt susceptibility: resistant
Pest resistance: resistant to pests/diseases
Figure 3. Foliage
Figure 4. Fruit

Use and Management

Longleaf Pine is not usually planted in landscapes, but could be used due to its beautiful bark and nice, open habit. It would be suited for planting in large landscapes, such as golf courses and parks, and in other areas with plenty of overhead space. It would probably adapt to the hot conditions created near concrete and asphalt, but dropping needles often discourage people from planting pines near streets or other pavement. This may be a small price to pay for having this tree in the landscape. If people would start planting this tree, it might catch on as Slash Pine has in parts of the South.

Longleaf Pine should be grown in full sun or partial shade on well-drained, acidic soil. Once established, trees are very drought-tolerant and require no irrigation for survival.

Propagation is by seed. Seedling trees in the wild usually transplant poorly due to a long tap root.

Pests

Some of its pests are borers, sawflies, pine-shoot moth, and pine weevils. Pine bark beetles will occasionally attack old trees which are stressed.

Diseases

No diseases are of major concern. This plant is resistant to fusiform rust.

Footnotes

1. This document is ENH-628, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date November 1993. Revised December 2006. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2. Edward F. Gilman, professor, Environmental Horticulture Department; Dennis G. Watson, associate professor, Agricultural Engineering Department, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville FL 32611.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Larry Arrington, Dean.


Copyright Information

This document is copyrighted by the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) for the people of the State of Florida. UF/IFAS retains all rights under all conventions, but permits free reproduction by all agents and offices of the Cooperative Extension Service and the people of the State of Florida. Permission is granted to others to use these materials in part or in full for educational purposes, provided that full credit is given to the UF/IFAS, citing the publication, its source, and date of publication.