longleaf pine

Pinus palustris

TreePinaceae

longleaf pine
Deer-resistantDrought tolerantSalt tolerantEvergreen
USDA zones7 to 10
SunNeeds full sun (6+ hours)
WaterHandles dry to moist soil
Size80 to 100 feet tall30 to 40 feet wide
Growth rate
Rapid
Bloom season
Spring, summer, autumn, winter
Bloom color
Brown
Foliage color
Dark green
Soil types
Sand, loam, clay
Soil pH
Acid, neutral

Garden uses

Low maintenanceWinter interest

Attracts

Birds

Notes

Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) is an evergreen tree for low maintenance and winter interest. It is hardy to USDA zone 7, or down to 0°F (-18°C). This plant likes full sun and dry to moist, sandy, loamy, or clay soil. The needles are the longest of any eastern North American pine, and they grow in dense bundles of three. Young trees spend a few years in a grass stage that looks like a bunchgrass. It is not a favorite of deer, though hungry deer will eat almost anything.

Pairs well with Slash pine, Loblolly pine, Carolina jessamine, and Buffalo grass.

Native range

AL, AR, FL, GA, and 6 more places. See all 10

AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC, TX, and VA.

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