8 Native Pine Trees In Virginia (Pictures & Identification)
Are you looking to grow the best pine tree variety for your Virginia backyard? You’re in luck, as the state is home to several types of pine trees, found in both the Rocky Mountains and coastal areas.
In this article, we will explore eight of the most prevalent native pine trees in Virginia. Each species is accompanied by pictures and distinct characteristics to aid in identification.
Let’s begin.
1. Eastern White Pine
Pinus strobus, or Eastern White Pine, can grow to be as tall as 200 feet and as wide as 3 feet. It is one of the tallest pine trees in Virginia.
This tree has straight trunks that form a pyramid shape, while the horizontal branches radiate outward in concentric rings around the trunk as it ages.
This pine tree favors rocky or sandy slopes, but it does well in damp sandy loam.
It has long, pliable needles that are a blue-green color and are 3 to 5 inches in length, with a few thin white stripes towards the base.
Male flowers, which form golden cylinder clusters at the ends of branches, are fertile, whereas female blossoms are tinged with green and red. Cones are between 4 and 8 inches in length, rounded, and stalked; they lack spines and instead have sticky scales.
The bark on young tree trunks is thin and smooth and has a greenish sheen, while the bark on older trees is deep gray with small cracks and prominent ridges with flat tops. Slim and ranging in hue from olive green to orange-brown, twigs bear reddish brown, egg-shaped buds.
Since Eastern White Pine has a relatively light color, straight grain, medium strength, and is easy to work with, it is used for timber, cabinet making, furniture, interior finishing, and even Christmas trees in some locations.
Deer and squirrels eat leaves and bark, and red and gray squirrels and songbirds eat the seeds. They are also frequently planted to restore degraded land that has been stripped bare. In the olden days, ships’ masts made of this massive conifer were in high demand.
2. Loblolly Pine
The Loblolly Pine is a tall, straight tree with an oval and rather open crown.
It can reach 90–110 feet in height and 2–3 feet in diameter when fully grown. This tree tends to live in places with poor drainage, such as abandoned fields, sandy soils where the water table is quite close to the surface, the periphery of wetlands, and similar areas.
It has three needles that come in a bundle. They are between 6 and 9 inches long, pale green in color, and stiff. Male blossoms, which are cylindrical, cluster at the ends of branches, while females come in a spectrum of colors from yellow to purple.
After the seed drop, 2- to 6-inch-long cones in oblong shapes are formed. These cones are light reddish brown and have spines on the tips of their scales.
When young, the bark is reddish-brown and scaly, but it darkens and becomes thick and reddish-brown, with broad, flat-topped plates separated by shallow fissures and covered in thin scales. The twigs are typically fine to moderately thick and have orange-brown hues, with narrowly ovoid buds that are a light reddish brown.
Because of its coarse grain and distinct difference between early and late wood, Loblolly pine is widely used in the manufacturing of paper pulp, plywood, poles, pilings, fuel, etc.
Wildlife, including pine warblers, nuthatches, deer, squirrels, quail, turkey bald eagles, ospreys, etc benefit from this pine tree.
3. Shortleaf Pine
Medium to big, the Shortleaf Pine (Pinus echinata Mill. ), also known as Old-Field Pine, Yellow Pine, Shortstraw Pine, and Rosemary pine, can grow to heights of 80 to 100 feet with trunk diameters of 2 to 3 feet.
It prefers nutrient-rich soils but can thrive in nutrient-poor environments like arid hills or sandy/silty loams. Its dark green needles are long and thin and grow in clusters of two or three.
Female flowers are a spectrum of colors from light green to scarlet, and they lack the thorns found on male flowers.
The 1 ½ to 2 ½ inch long cones, with little spines at the end of each scale, stay on the tree for years after the seed drop has occurred. The bark is in the form of uneven plates covered in thin reddish scales, and it often features microscopic holes resembling those created by a pencil point.
Young twigs are a greenish-purple color, but as they age they turn a deep reddish brown. The wood harvested from mature trees is dense and hard, with fine grains that are typically used for interior and exterior finishing, flooring, general building veneers, paper pulp poles, and other industrial applications.
The ability of young trees of this species to resprout from the root collar after suffering fire damage is an intriguing trait that makes this tree very hard to destroy.
4. Longleaf Pine
The Longleaf Pine is a tall, slender tree with a crooked or twisted crown. It is one of the most commonly seen pine trees in Virginia. They have the potential to grow to 80–100 feet in height and 2–2 1/2 feet in diameter.
When it comes to soil, longleaf pine favors acidic, relatively infertile flatwoods over well-drained sandy soils.
Regarding the physical appearance, needles on this evergreen pine grow in groups of three and can be anywhere from 8 inches to 15 inches in length. They also like to cluster towards the tips of the tree’s limbs.
The enormous, silvery white shiny buds (also known as “candles”) are another unique stuff that helps identify this variety of pine trees in Virginia. Cones reach maturity the following year, measuring 6-10 inches in length, with spine-tipped scales, and shedding their seed the following autumn.
Male flowers are long and yellowish-red, while female flowers are oblong and purple. The peeling, scaly bark of an old tree is orange to reddish brown.
Since its heartwood is so dense, heavy, robust, and resilient, longleaf pines were historically predominantly employed for commercial manufacturing of naval stores like pitch, tar, resin, and turpentine.
Wild turkeys, foxes, squirrels, and other animals rely on the seeds of this species, while endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers build their nests in the cavities of mature, still-living trees.
Before European settlement, most of the eastern Coastal Plain was dominated by these regal trees, but exclusion fire has been one role in the reduction. Restoration efforts are beginning in Virginia, so hopefully, we’ll see more of them soon. If you have the space to grow this majestic tree, you can be also a part of restoration efforts.
5. Virginia Pine
The Virginia Pine is a native North American evergreen coniferous tree. It is often known by the names Scrub Pine, Spruce Pine, or Jersey Pine. Even though it grows best in well-drained soils, Virginia pine can survive in degraded and arid environments, making it an excellent choice for wastelands.
When fully grown, the circumference of the trunk is 12–14 inches, while the height will be around 50–80 feet. Long horizontal branches hang loosely from the crown in a ragged pattern, and branch stubs stay on the trunk for many years even after lower stems die.
The needles on this tree are 1.5–3 inches long, have a thick yellow-green hue, and are twisted into pairs per stemlet.
Near the ends of the branches, you’ll find the male flowers, which have a cylindrical appearance. However, the female flowers can be anywhere from yellow to red and have curving prickles at their bases.
The bark has a thin, reddish brown, scaly texture with shallow fissures running through it, while the twigs continue to be skinny and purplish green and are coated with a waxy material, and buds are gray-brown, narrowly egg-shaped entities that sprout out from the twigs.
The cones of this species are a dark reddish brown, egg-shaped structure, reaching between 1 ½ and 2 ¾ inches long, with a sharp spine at the apex. They mature in the second year, then fall off the trees several years later, leaving the limbs with empty cones still attached.
Even though this wood warps quickly under alternating wetting and drying cycles, it has been utilized for rough construction. It is also used for making paper pulp because of its very long fibers.
Mice and deer eat the new leaves, and woodpeckers build their nests in old trees that are dying. All of these things add value to the ecosystem beyond the lumber they produce. Small songbirds feed on the seeds found within these pines and use them as roosting spots.
6. Pitch Pine
The Pitch Pine, or Pinus rigida Mill., is a type of pine tree found only in North America.
When fully grown, it has the potential to be 50-60 feet tall and 1-2 feet in diameter. Even though Its crown is crooked and messy, it looks attractive because of the thick, twisted branches that often dangle limply from it.
Pitch Pines prefer the acidic soil conditions found on dry hills and slopes, river valleys, and in mountain swamps.
Depending on the species, the needles can range in length from 3 to 6 inches and have a hard texture. They are a dark yellowish-green color and are arranged in groups of three that are sometimes twisted. Sometimes clusters of needles will form along the main trunk or even the larger branches.
Cylindrical male flowers in reds and yellows can be found at the tops of twigs, while female flowers lean more toward reds and yellows and have thin, curving scales.
The cones have a length of 1-and-a-quarter to two-and-a-quarter inches and are covered in scales that are capped with curved spines; they can remain closed for more than a decade before being broken open by fire.
Older trees have yellowish-brown, plate-like cracks in their bark, while younger trees have orangey brown twigs and slender, egg-shaped, light gray-brown buds.
The high resin content of pitch pine wood has made it useful for timber and pulp production for centuries, and the seeds provide a nutritious food source for animals like deer and rabbits who enjoy browsing the new growth.
This tree is adapted to fire, which is why young trees can easily resprout from roots or stumps if they are damaged. Historically, knots were used as torches because of their high resin content.
7. Table Mountain Pine
Often found on dry, rocky slopes and ridges, the Table Mountain Pine (also known as Hickory Pine or Mountain Pine) is a distinctive and resilient tree.
When growing on cliffs or rock outcrops, the uneven crown of several huge, heavy branches can become twisted. The needles are rigid, twisted, and grow 1.5–2.5 inches long in tight pairs with a dark bluish-green tint.
Male blooms are purple to yellow and cylinder-shaped, while female flowers are green to light purple and clustered at the branch tips. The cones are 2 ½ to 3 inches long and have stiff, hooked spines at the top of each scale, giving them a knobby look. Depending on the tree, some cones may open up quickly upon ripening, while others remain closed for several years before releasing their seeds, making the plant a favorite of wildlife such as squirrels.
As a result of its high resin content, table mountain pine wood is put to use in the construction industry for rough timber, in the paper and pulp industry, and as a source of fuel. It also protects soil from erosion because it can grow in places where few other trees can.
8. Pond Pine
Pond pine is a type of pine tree that is native to the coastal regions of southeast Virginia. When fully grown, it has the potential to reach heights of 40–70 feet and widths of 1-2 feet.
This pine is also known by the common names Pocosin Pine, Bay Pine, Marsh Pine, and Black Bark Pine. Since it is native to coastal regions, it prefers moist, well-drained soil conditions.
Now, let’s talk about its physical appearance.
Pond pine has a narrow crown and a twisted trunk. Its needles are slim, green-yellow in color, pliable, 6–8 inches long, and arranged in clusters of three.
Male flowers, which are cylindrical and range in color from purple to yellow, can be found at the tips of branches, while female flowers, which can also be found at the tips of branches, are a spectrum of colors from light green to red.
The cones are about two to two and a half inches in length and are covered in flattened scales that are closed at the tip by a thin prickle; they do not release their seeds until they are heated in a fire.
Twigs are typically thin but can be relatively thick; they bear light brown buds with a reddish-brown tinge. The bark is dark reddish brown and is broken into little scaly plates by narrow, shallow cracks. In addition to being perfect for making timber and pulpwood, stands are a haven for a variety of fauna. The wood is resinous, heavy, and coarse-grained.
It is a perfect tree for areas where forest fires are common because even if all of the leaves are pruned or destroyed, they will quickly regrow from the trunk.
Native Pine Trees In Virginia – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
In this section, I will be answering some of the very commonly asked questions related to pine trees in Virginia that are asked on different internet forums.
What types of pine trees are native to Virginia?
The commonly seen native pine trees in Virginia are Eastern White Pine, Loblolly Pine, Shortleaf Pine, Virginia Pine, Pitch Pine, Table Mountain Pine, and Pond Pine. There are several other varieties, but they are not as common as the ones listed above.
How do I identify a Virginia pine tree?
Virginia’s native Virginia pine has a height of 50-80 feet, a trunk circumference of 12-14 inches, an irregular pattern of branches hanging loosely from the crown, and long, twisted, yellow-green needles in pairs. The male flowers have a cylindrical appearance, while the female flowers have curving prickles. Also, the thin reddish-brown bark with shallow fissures and dark reddish-brown egg-shaped cones with sharp spines can help in identifying the tree.
What is killing pine trees in Virginia?
Southern pine beetles are the most damaging forest insects in Virginia and the rest of the southeastern U.S. They are the ones who attack the trunks of mature and overmature pine trees in large numbers.
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Sources
The Regional Gardening team makes sure that the information in our articles is accurate by only using sources that are known to be trustworthy. These sources include peer-reviewed journals published by government departments, esteemed universities, and scientific research institutions.
- Virginia Department Of Forestry
- Virginia Native Plant Society
- The US Forest Service
- Virginia Natural Heritage Program
