The spiny, grayish-brown cones are equally large (5 to 12 inches long) and attractive.
Both the needles and the cones are used in crafts.
The reddish-brown bark has paper-like scales.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Various mammals and birds use this native evergreen for food and shelter.
Soil
Because of its long taproot, longleaf pine needs deep soil.
Sandyloamwith good drainage and apH between 5.0 and 5.5is ideal.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Water
Young trees need regular watering until they are established.
verify to keep the area weed-free to avoid competition for water and nutrients.
Mature longleaf pine trees are fairly drought-resistant but benefit from occasional watering in periods of dry weather.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Temperature and Humidity
Longleaf pine is not winter-hardy belowUSDA Zone 7.
Fertilizer
The tree does not require fertilizer and does better without.
Types of Longleaf Pine
No cultivars, varieties, or subspecies of longleaf pine are available.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
If you choose to do this, make your pruning cuts flush with the trunk.
Vegetative propagation methods yield mixed results and seeds deteriorate rapidly.
An infestation with bark beetles may manifest itself as needle loss.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Generally, pests are more likely to attack trees that are stressed.
Yes, the needles of the longleaf pine can be used aspine straw mulch.
In years with especially dry weather and high temperatures, the browning and shedding may occur earlier than usual.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Longleaf pine once covered 59 to 87 million acres in the southeastern United States.
Longleaf Pine: Overview of Planting.
Texas A&M Forest Service.
Longleaf Pine Trees Are Shedding Needles.
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
Pinus palustris.USDA Fire Effects Information System.
