Georgia Wildlife Federation

Resources < Wildlife Habitats < Guide to Native Plants of Georgia for Wildlife < Pinus palustris

The Longleaf Pine has had a turbulent history at the hands of man. It was formerly widespread throughout the Coastal Plain but now exists within a drastically reduced range. One reason is fire suppression efforts, and others include extensive logging of the tree for timber and resin production. Longleaf Pine is remarkably adapted to annual or biennial fires that rage throughout the Coastal Plain during hot, dry summers. Longleaf Pine seedlings look like small, dense, fluffy green grass clumps rather than young trees. They grow so dense, in fact, that even the hottest fires cannot burn through the long, thin needles and damage the tender bud at the center. This stage is called the grass stage. Then, after a few years of slow growth, the bushy plant shows its true greatness and begins its arrow-straight climb toward the sky.

The Longleaf Pine was a historically important source for naval products during the era of wooden ships. Pines produced resin, turpentine, and timber for constructing and waterproofing ships. Sadly, after intensive logging for over 300 years, only 3% of the original stands of Longleaf Pine remain. Few new trees are planted because faster-growing pines like Loblolly and Slash are substituted. Growing the Longleaf Pine yields not only a fluffy, wispy beauty, but a boost to the health of the environment and a return to the magnificence of the Coastal Plain.

Family: Pinaceae (Pine)

Description: Tall but slow-growing evergreen conifer. Bark is thick, reddish-brown, and scaly. Leaves are dark green, needle-like, and occur in bundles of three. They are very long, from 8-18” in length. Male (pollen) and female (seed) cones emerge during the growing season before buds emerge. Pollination via the wind occurs in early spring, and female cones mature 20 months afterward in fall. They are 15-25 cm long and 5-7 cm wide, with a sharp pointed spine on each scale.

Size: Eventually 100-115 feet tall and up to 28” in diameter.

Habit: Tall evergreen coniferous tree

Growth Rate: Moderate to slow

Planting and Care: Site Longleaf Pine in its permanent location. Transplanted seedlings may be compromised because they require their long taproots for survival. Once established, trees are strongly drought, flood, and fire tolerant. It is important to remember that Longleaf Pines have a grass stage and should not be mistaken for weeds and mowed over.

Ornamental Value: As one of two species of pines with remarkably long leaves, Longleaf Pines are highly ornamental. They look like tall, wooly green stick figures and have a noticeable uniqueness. Their evergreen foliage gives them interest all year long.

Landscape Use: Longleaf Pine looks wonderful as a specimen but also blends well with other native forest trees and other pines. A winning combination often seen in nature is the Longleaf Pine as a dominant canopy tree with a groundcover of native low-growing palm species like Saw Palmetto, Dwarf Palmetto, and Needle Palm.

Wildlife Benefits: The Longleaf Pine is a foliar host for the caterpillars of the Eastern Pine Elfin. Longleaf Pine forests are one of the few ecosystems that support the endangered Red Cockaded Woodpecker, which feeds on insects that in turn feed on the tree’s rich sap. The Brown-Headed Nuthatch and many other birds relish the seeds.

Native Habitat: Formerly native along much of the southeastern Coastal Plain, its present range is much diminished there. It now extends from Texas east to Florida and north to Virginia. It favors sandy uplands and flatwoods.