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Carolina Gardening

Please identify this Pine Tree

transplanted2scin07

15 years ago

Here's a photo of a Pine taken today at Paris Mountain State Park.

{{gwi:574134}}

There are many of these trees there. The gorgeous bark has large plates, the needles are about 2 inches long and the tree gets very tall. Unfortunately, I could not tell from the ground how many needles were in a cluster. I hope these clues are enough for someone to identify this tree as I'd love to buy a few of these.

Thanks,

Sandi

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Comments (14)

lsst
15 years ago
Paris Mountain has a lot of Loblolly pines. The bark looks like a Loblolly to me.
nannerbelle
15 years ago
I vote Loblolly as well, I have one on the back of my property that is very tall.
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Hard to tell from the pics but the bark looks like a SYP (southern yellowpine) most likely a loblolly or shortleaf. The pitch tubes are a dead ringer for southern pine beetles, of which there are five different species. That tree is a dead man walking, your next symptom will be red top. You will see this no later the the middle of next summer. It will not be immediately noticable from the ground but obvious from the air when the upper needles on the tree start dying due to lack of nutrients being brought up because the beetle larvae have eaten away the cambium layer. Remove that tree NOW and keep a very close eye on any SYP within 300' of that tree. I would also consider burning off or removal of all leaf litter within that 300' radius as well. I have over 200 acres of planted loblolly and the standard treatment for SPB is removal of all dead and dying trees and everything within 300' of affected trees and if possible a controlled burn to destroy any beetles in the leaf litter. The life cycle of the SPB is for the adult beetle to lay it's eggs just under the bark of the tree at it's base. The hatched out larvae then proceed to eat their way to the top of the tree through the cambium layer, girdling it in the process. Once the larvae reach the top they emerge as adults and fly down to the base of adjacent trees to repeat the cycle.(hence the 300' radius and removal of leaf litter) Treatment is not an option in large plantings like mine. It can be done on single trees but it would need to be a systemic insecticide on a large scale for mature trees and even then the damage is usually already done. Prevention is the only hope and that can be problematic. Stressed trees are the most suseptible. I have the worst outbreaks during droughts or following severe winters (ice storms). Regular controlled burns are also recommended as is opening the forest floor with wider spacing between trees. Many of us are also giving a long hard look at long leaf pine which is almost immune to the SPB. I do have about 60 acres of it planted on my homeplace.
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Personally I have no issue with using "pine" as a general term for "conifer not otherwise specified" mainly because that seems to be how it was used historically. After all, a pinetum is a an arboretum full of conifers, and the umbrella pine, Huon pine, King Billy pine, and Norfolk pine are in the families Sciadopityaceae, Podocarpaceae, Cupressaceae, and Araucariaceae. Personally though, I think we should just start calling them all "Yule trees." It's neither taxonomically nor politically incorrect, and sounds almost as nice as "pine" when you substitute it. As for that particular tree, it's definitely in Cupressaceae, and probably a Cupressus sp. (Athrotaxis cupressoides is the only non-Cupressus species I know of that has a form and foliage like that, and it wouldn't be a garden plant in Maryland.) Beyond that, I don't know. Does Cupressus arizonica grow in MD? I agree that it looks like one, but I thought it was prone to root rot in humid climates.
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It's an easy one to grow, like many fire-climax pines, it doesn't need stratification. Just sow the seeds in a well-drained soil mix. Resin
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alicia7b
15 years ago
I vote Loblolly too.
transplanted2scin07
Original Author
15 years ago
Well, who can argue with 3 votes in favor? Thanks! Now I just have to find a source...
jqpublic
15 years ago
The seedlings are everywhere around here. I'm sure you can find one in your yard if you look hard enough :)
myrmecodia
15 years ago
If the needles were really only 2 inches long, that would rule out Loblolly pine, wouldn't it? Pinus taeda should have needles >5 inches long.
Iris GW
15 years ago
I agree it is probably not loblolly with that size needles. I have tried, btw, to transplant pines in my yard - several different sizes. None of them have made it.

In Georgia, you can buy all kinds of pine trees very cheaply from the Forestry Service. You have to buy in bundles of 50. SC Forestry Service has a similar reforestation program. What a nice selection they have (they do have a couple of non-natives, steer clear of those). Looks like you can get them in bundles of 10 for $6-7.

Here is a link that might be useful: Here's their link
alicia7b
15 years ago
Sandi, here are a couple of pictures of loblolly pines in my yard. Were the needles shorter than this?

{{gwi:574132}}

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transplanted2scin07
Original Author
15 years ago
Actually, I think they were shorter. I looked on the web last night after reading on GW that it may be Lobolly and found other possibilities. I thought it may be Ponderosa until I discovered they grow primarily in the north west. Then I wondered if it was Pinus echinata, the Short Leaf Pine. The bark certainly looks similar and the bark is why I liked it so much. Since I'm also trying get my hands on Long Leaf Pine, I guess the next step will be a search for the SC Forestry Service. Thanks again for the help!
Sandi

Here is a link that might be useful: Short Leaf Pine
nannerbelle
15 years ago
SC Forestry does in fact sell Long Leaf. My favorite of the pines!! :-) I plan to buy quite a few this year myself. They are simply beautiful!! I now have Loblolly, White, Yellow and some Long Leaf on my land. I want more of the Long Leaf though.
dellare
15 years ago
Long Leaf pine are my favorite I think. In the cool, spring sunshine they glisten. Adele
jqpublic
15 years ago
Yeah the bark of Shortleaf Pine is my favorite. Their bark in my opinion is more divided and blocky than Loblollies. I like looking at large lone trees. They look like gigantic bonsai's.
transplanted2scin07
Original Author
15 years ago
I found the SC Forestry website (below). I guess they are not taking any new seedling orders until later in the season.
A catalog in pdf format can be seen at this site. They have deciduous trees, too.

Here is a link that might be useful: SC Forestry Seedlings
nannerbelle
15 years ago
Right Transplanted2SC, it will be later on before they take orders. I am planning to order some things from them. Now you know where to find a good price on beautiful Long Leaf Pine! :-)

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