Pinus elliottii (Slash Pine)

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.