Attributes:
The Longleaf Pine is a beautiful and unique tree native to the southern United States. The showy bark, open branching habit, distinctive silvery white buds during winter, large, decorative cones, and low maintenance make it well suited for use in the home landscape as a specimen tree and street tree where space permits. It is a valuable timber tree and is often used in reclamation.
Description:
The Longleaf Pine trunk has scaly, coarse, light, orange-brown bark with upright branches forming an oval, open crown. The flexible, dark green needles are up to 18" long, and the large, spiny cones are up to 10" long and may persist on the tree for two years. For the first five to seven years, the pine stays in a tufted, grass-like stage after germination, growing slowly while the root system develops. Following the grass stage, it grows at a medium to fast rate. The inch long clusters of new growth are silver white during the winter. The roots are sensitive to disturbance during construction.
Wildlife Value:
This tree provides food and cover for wildlife, including the now endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. Squirrels, quails, brown-headed nuthatches, and turkeys eat the seeds.
Moisture:
Drought tolerant once established.
Leaves:
Flexible, dark green needles are in fascicles of 3, occasionally 2. 6" - 18" long.
Flower Color:
Dark reddish-purple, inconspicuous.
Bloom Time:
Spring..
Fruit Description:
Ovoid-oblong, brown cones, 6" - 10" long, up to 5" wide at base.
