Create Your Garden

Pinus elliottii (Slash Pine)

Slash Pine, Yellow Slash Pine, Swamp Pine, Florida Slash Pine, South Florida Slash Pine, Dade County Slash Pine, Dade County Pine, Cuban Pine, Pinus heterophylla

Pinus elliottii, Slash Pine,  Yellow Slash Pine, Swamp Pine, Florida Slash Pine, South Florida Slash Pine, Dade County Slash Pine, Dade County Pine, Cuban Pine, Evergreen Tree, Conifer
Pinus elliottii, Slash Pine,  Yellow Slash Pine, Swamp Pine, Florida Slash Pine, South Florida Slash Pine, Dade County Slash Pine, Dade County Pine, Cuban Pine, Evergreen Tree, Conifer
Pinus elliottii, Slash Pine,  Yellow Slash Pine, Swamp Pine, Florida Slash Pine, South Florida Slash Pine, Dade County Slash Pine, Dade County Pine, Cuban Pine, Evergreen Tree, Conifer
Pinus elliottii, Slash Pine,  Yellow Slash Pine, Swamp Pine, Florida Slash Pine, South Florida Slash Pine, Dade County Slash Pine, Dade County Pine, Cuban Pine, Evergreen Tree, Conifer
Pinus elliottii

One of the fastest-growing southern pines, Pinus elliottii (Slash Pine) is a large evergreen conifer which looses its lower branches with age. Pyramidal when young, it forms an open, rounded canopy creating a light, dappled shade beneath. Its foliage of relatively long, dark, shiny green needles, 6-12 in. (15-30 cm), is borne in bundles of two and three on the same branch. The needles are held on the tree about 2 years, which gives the canopy an open look with needles crowded near ends of branches and twigs. Elongated chocolate brown to reddish brown cones, 2-6 in. long (5-15 cm), are produced on mature specimens (12 years). They are an important food source for birds and small mammals. The bark is red-brown and furrowed when young, becoming platey with loose, thin scales that flake off, revealing a light brown to cinnamon color on older specimens. An important species for lumber, plywood, pulp, and resin products, Slash Pine is extensively grown in forest plantations. Because of its rapid growth and extensive lateral root system, it is used to stabilize soil and rehabilitate mine spoils. It is long-lived (150 years) and its stately beauty makes it popular as a shade and ornamental tree. Since shaded lower branches die and drop as the tree grows taller be careful not to plant this pine too close to high traffic areas.

  • Grows up to 70-100 ft. tall (21-30 m) and 30-50 ft. wide (9-15 m).
  • Performs best in full sun to part shade in acidic, well-drained to occasionally wet soils. Drought and salt tolerant.
  • Keep an eye out for bark beetles, wood borers, sawflies, fusiform rust, pitch canker, annosus root rot.
  • Slash pine is self-pruning of its lower branches.
  • Propagate by seed. Sow fresh, untreated seed in late fall.
  • Native range includes the Coastal Plain from southern South Carolina to central Florida and west to eastern Louisiana. Slash pine has been planted as far north as Kentucky and Virginia, and as far west as eastern Texas, where it now reproduces naturally.

Requirements

Hardiness 8 - 11
Heat Zones 9 - 11
Plant Type Conifers, Trees
Plant Family Pinaceae
Genus Pinus
Common names Pine, Slash Pine
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early, Mid, Late)
Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 70' - 100'
(21.3m - 30.5m)
Spread 30' - 50'
(9.1m - 15.2m)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy, Evergreen, Fruit & Berries
Native Plants United States, Southeast, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Southwest, Texas
Tolerance Drought, Salt
Attracts Birds
Garden Styles Prairie and Meadow
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Guides with
Pinus (Pine)
Not sure which Pinus (Pine) to pick?
Compare Now

Alternative Plants to Consider

Pinus eldarica (Afghan Pine)
Pinus edulis (Pinyon Pine)
Pinus strobus ‘Contorta’ (Eastern White Pine)
Pinus sabiniana (California Foothill Pine)
Pinus pungens (Table Mountain Pine)
Pinus rigida (Pitch Pine)

Recommended Companion Plants

Quercus virginiana (Live Oak)
Taxodium ascendens (Pond Cypress)
Sabal palmetto (Cabbage Palm)
Acer rubrum (Red Maple)
Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweet Gum)
Morella cerifera (Southern Wax Myrtle)
Ilex vomitoria (Yaupon)
Quercus stellata (Post Oak)

Find In One of Our Guides or Gardens

Popular Pine Trees for Small Gardens
Roots of Life: Exploring the Diverse World of Trees
Green Canopy, Better World: Exploring the Benefits of Trees
Trees that Invite Wildlife to Your Garden
Small Evergreen Shrubs for Year-Round Appeal
Native Plant Alternatives to Pinus sylvestris (Scotch Pine)
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Buy Plants

Requirements

Hardiness 8 - 11
Heat Zones 9 - 11
Plant Type Conifers, Trees
Plant Family Pinaceae
Genus Pinus
Common names Pine, Slash Pine
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early, Mid, Late)
Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 70' - 100'
(21.3m - 30.5m)
Spread 30' - 50'
(9.1m - 15.2m)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy, Evergreen, Fruit & Berries
Native Plants United States, Southeast, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Southwest, Texas
Tolerance Drought, Salt
Attracts Birds
Garden Styles Prairie and Meadow
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Guides with
Pinus (Pine)
Not sure which Pinus (Pine) to pick?
Compare Now

Gardening Ideas

Plant Calculator

How many Pinus elliottii (Slash Pine) do I need for my garden?

Input your garden space dimensions

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Pinus elliottii (Slash Pine) N/A Buy Plants

Please Login to Proceed

You Have Reached The Free Limit, Please Subscribe to Proceed

Subscribe to Gardenia

To create additional collections, you must be a paid member of Gardenia
  • Add as many plants as you wish
  • Create and save up to 25 garden collections
Become a Member

Plant Added Successfully

You have Reached Your Limit

To add more plants, you must be a paid member of our site Become a Member

Update Your Credit
Card Information

Cancel

Create a New Collection

Sign Up to Our Newsletter

    You have been subscribed successfully

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Find your Hardiness Zone

    Find your Heat Zone

    Find your Climate Zone