Pinus echinata
Shortleaf Pine
Please register or login to build your personal plant list.Shortleaf Pine is a medium-sized, wildlife-friendly evergreen conifer with a pyramidal crown. Blue-green needles occur in bundles of two, and...
Description:
Shortleaf Pine is a medium-sized, wildlife-friendly evergreen conifer with a pyramidal crown. Blue-green needles occur in bundles of two, and prickly cones are produced when the tree reaches maturity at around 20 years old. Shortleaf Pine features attractive, reddish-brown bark, which offers ornamental value. This tree provides cover and nesting sites for birds, which also eat the seeds. It is an important host plant for larvae (caterpillars) of the Elf butterfly (Microtia elva). Shortleaf Pine can be used as an effective screen when young; the tree tends to lose bottom branches with age. Plant Shortleaf Pine in naturalized areas of your yard. This pine species may be difficult to find commercially. Tell your local garden center or nursery about your interest in this plant.
Plant Details:
Plant Type: Tree
New Jersey Native: Yes
Deer Resistance: Some
Attracts Pollinators and Wildlife: Butterflies, Birds
Salt Tolerance: Low to None
Hardiness Zone: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
Physiographic Region: Piedmont - P, Coastal Plain - CP
Grows in Special Ecoregions: Barrier Island/Coastal, Pinelands
Soil Characteristics
Soil Type: Loam, Organic, Sandy
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil pH: Acidic, Slightly Acidic, Neutral
Light Needs of Plant
Optimal Light: Full Sun
Light Range: Full Sun
Water Needs of Plant
Soil Moisture: Dry
Drought Tolerance: Medium
Size and Growth Rate
Height: 50 - 60 ft
Spread: 30 - 50 ft
Growth Rate: Fast