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Home > Pine > Shortleaf Pine

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.

Shortleaf Pine

Shortleaf Pine

Shortleaf Pine Tree

Shortleaf Pine Tree

Scientific Classification

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

Pinus Echinata

Shortleaf Pine Pictures

Shortleaf Pine Pictures

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
Shortleaf Pine Bark

Shortleaf Pine Bark

Shortleaf Pine Bonsai

Shortleaf Pine Bonsai

Shortleaf Pine Leaf

Shortleaf Pine Leaf

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.
Shortleaf Pine Cone

Shortleaf Pine Cone

Shortleaf Pine Needles

Shortleaf Pine Needles

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

Published on August 20th 2016 by Sajal Datta under Pine.
Article was last reviewed on 5th December 2022.

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