Pinus echinata

Common Names

Shortleaf Pine, Shortleaf Yellow Pine, Southern Yellow Pine, Yellow Pine, Shortstraw Pine, Arkansas Soft Pine, Old Field Pine

Summary

Shortleaf Pine (Pinus echinata Mill.) is a native evergreen conifer of the southeastern United States, typically 15–45 m tall with a straight trunk and a rounded to conic crown. It bears needles 7–13 cm long, usually in bundles of two (sometimes three), slender and not twisted, and small seed cones 4–7 cm long that mature in two years. Bark plates are wider than 4 cm with crater-like blisters and resin pockets, and the epithet echinata refers to the spiny cones. Seeds are wind-dispersed, with most falling within about 50 m of the parent tree. It prefers full sun and dry to well-drained soils, tolerating a broad range of soils (sandy loams preferred) and USDA hardiness zones 6–9. It is shade‑intolerant and fire-adapted, regenerating after disturbance with seeds germinating on exposed mineral soil. Cone crops are irregular, with cycles of about 3–10 years in the Northeast and 3–6 years in the South. Seedlings are commonly nursery-grown 1-year-old bare-root stock planted about 2.4–3.0 m apart, a deep taproot makes transplanting from wild sources difficult. Primary uses include lumber, plywood, and pulpwood. Oleoresins yield turpentine and wildlife habitat value. Pests and diseases include littleleaf disease, root rot, pine beetles, and weevils.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

960-1200 inches

Spread

20-35 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 6-9

Sunlight Requirements

Pinus echinata: ideally full sun; tolerates partial sun and light shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained, acidic sandy loam soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soils

Soil pH

4.5-6.5, Prefers acidic soils

Bloom Color

Green to red/purple, Yellow to pale purple-green, White, Yellowish-brown to purple

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Blue-green to green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen needle

Growth Rate

Slow but steady growth, with sapling height averaging about 0.3–0.9 meters per year.

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Fall.

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Layering, Cuttings

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts birds