Loblolly Pine
Pinus taeda · Evergreen, Coniferous, Softwood
Plant Family
Pinaceae
Tree Category
Timber Tree, Forest Tree, Shade Tree, Conifer
Variety / Cultivar
No specific cultivar identified; typical of wild-type Pinus taeda
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 6 through 9; highly adaptable to heat and humidity.
About This Tree
Large, fast-growing coniferous tree with a straight trunk and a rounded crown at maturity. It is one of several pines native to the Southeastern US known as 'yellow pine' or 'southern pine'.
Leaf Characteristics
Needles in bundles of three (occasionally two), 6 to 9 inches long, slender, stiff, and dark yellowish-green; persistent for up to three years.
Bark Characteristics
Thick and deeply furrowed into large, irregular, scaly plates; dark gray-brown to reddish-brown in color, providing excellent fire resistance for older trees.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Southeastern United States, from southern New Jersey south to Florida and west to East Texas
Growing Season
Evergreen with year-round foliage; rapid growth in spring and summer; reproductive cones mature over two years
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun is required; fast-growing tree with moderate to high water needs, often found in lowland or moist soil sites but quite adaptable.
Mature Size
Mature height of 60 to 100 feet (occasionally taller), spread of 25 to 35 feet, with a trunk diameter of 2 to 3 feet.
Special Characteristics
Significant timber value for pulpwood and lumber; fast colonization of abandoned fields; moderately resistant to fusiform rust.
Wildlife & Ecology
Provides nesting sites for Red-cockaded Woodpeckers; seeds are a food source for squirrels, chipmunks, and songbirds; serves as a vital canopy component in southern pine-oak forests.