Loblolly pine

The trees reach a height of 30–35 m with a diameter of 0.4–1.5 m . Exceptional specimens may reach 50 m tall, the largest of the southern pines. Its needles are in bundles of three, sometimes twisted, and measure 12–22 cm long; an intermediate length for southern pines, shorter than those of the Longleaf Pine or Slash Pine, but longer than those of the Shortleaf Pine and Spruce Pine. The needles usually last up to two years before they fall, which gives the species its evergreen character. Although some needles fall throughout the year due to severe weather, insect damage, and drought, most needles fall during the autumn and winter of their second year. The seed cones are green, ripening pale buff-brown, 7–13 cm in length, 2–3 cm broad when closed, opening to 4–6 cm wide, each scale bearing a sharp 3–6 mm spine.

Pinus taeda (Loblolly Pine) is one of several pines native to the southeastern United States, from Texas east to Florida, and north to Delaware. It is particularly dominant in the eastern half of North Carolina, where there are huge expanses consisting solely of Loblolly Pine trees, as opposed to the rest of the south, where forests contain Loblolly Pines but also many other species of trees. It is one of the species grouped as southern yellow pine in the wood industry. More

Pinus taeda is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. See states reporting loblolly pine (opens a new window). More