Pinus virginiana (Virginia Pine)

Widely distributed in the American southeast, Pinus virginiana (Virginia Pine) is a medium-sized, straggling evergreen conifer of pyramidal habit in youth, developing an open, irregular, rounded to flat-topped crown with age. Long spreading ascending to descending branches spring irregularly from the cinnamon brown trunk. The foliage of yellow-green to dark green, 3 in. long (7 cm), often growing with a twist, is arranged in tufts of two. Numerous persistent spiny-scaled cones, up to 3 in. long (7 cm), hang on for years, sometimes throughout the tree’s life. Fast-growing, over 12 in. per year (30 cm), and hardier than most pines, this evergreen tree, with its interesting scraggly shape, makes a lovely specimen plant for planting in poor dry sites. It is also used for reclamation plantings, soil erosion cover, or windbreaks. It is an excellent tree for wildlife, attracting many mammals and bird species for food and shelter. Virginia Pine is fairly short-lived (65 to 90 years).

• Grows up to 15-40 ft. tall (4-12 m) and 10-30 ft. wide (3-9 m) at maturity.
• Performs best in full sun in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils. Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions, including heavy clay and poor, dry soils. Dislikes shallow, chalky soils and is intolerant of wet, poorly drained soils.
• No serious pest or disease issues. Keep an eye out for pitch canker. Deer resistant.
• No pruning required.
• Propagate by seed.
• Native from southern Pennsylvania and New Jersey southward to northern Georgia and Alabama.