Shortleaf Pine

The Shortleaf Pine is a medium- to large-sized tree, indigenous to the eastern United States. The tree varies in form – sometimes straight, sometimes twisted with an asymmetrical crown. It can tolerate varied soil and site conditions and maintains steady growth rate for a long period.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom	Plantae
Division	Pinophyta
Class	Pinopsida
Order	Pinales
Family	Pinaceae
Genus	Pinus
Species	Pinus echinata

Quick Information

Other Names	Southern Yellow Pine, Oldfield pine, Shortstraw pine, Shortleaf Yellow Pine, Arkansas Soft Pine
Similar Species	Virginia Pine
Size	Height: 20-30 m (66–98 ft) Trunk diameter: 0.5–0.9 m
Leaves	Needle-shaped, mixed in bundles of two or three; 7-11 cm (2.8–4.3 in) long
Cones	4-7 cm (1.6–2.8 in) long, consists of thin scales with a transverse keel and a short prickle; it is persistent but, opens at maturity
Bark	Dark and scaly when young, turning reddish-brown with fragmented rectangular plates upon maturity, there are small resin pores  on the plates; it is 2 to 3 cm (0.8 to 1.0 in) thick
Tree Type	Evergreen
Shape at Maturity	Crown is rounded to cone-shaped
Distribution/Range	New York State, northern Florida, eastern Oklahoma, eastern Texas
Hardiness Zones	6a-8b
Growth Rate	Grows slower when young; later, it becomes steady
Lifespan	Around 200 years
Growing Conditions	Soil conditions: Grows well on drier, well-drained, and less fertile sites in full sun, requires low nutrients, does not grow well on soils with high calcium content, high pH, and poor soil aeration Water requirements: Fairly drought resistant Sunlight: Tolerates partial shade
Diseases/Pests	Littleleaf disease, root rot, red heart; Nantucket pine tip moth, redheaded pine sawfly, loblolly pine sawfly, pitch-eating weevil, pales weevil
Flowering/Fruiting	Late March to late April
Seed Production	Bears seeds at around 20 years of age
Dispersal of Seeds	Late October to early November
Wildlife Value	Provides excellent nesting sites for woodpeckers and shelter to other species; deer graze on young sprouts while some animals feed on the seeds; the shortleaf pine forests aid in preventing sandy soil from erosion
Uses	Good source of wood pulp, lumber, and  plywood veneer
IUCN Conservation Status	Least Concern

Interesting Facts

• Like most pines, Shortleaf pine is a popular bonsai.
• Young trees may sprout from the base especially after fires or mowing which differentiate them from other southern pines.
• A deep taproot develops early in its life cycle, which helps it to grow on poor sites.
• The plant has excellent fire adaptability – its thick platy bark protects the cambium from fire injury, its cones with plentiful seed crops aid seedlings to recover after a fire, and it can control the production of flammable resins.

References:

1. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/pinus-echinata/
2. https://urbanforestrysouth.org/resources/library/citations/pinus-echinata-shortleaf-pine/fss_get/file
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinus_echinata
4. https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/tree/pinech/all.html
5. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=v130