{"slug":"pinus-taeda","scientific_name":"Pinus taeda","common_names":["Loblolly pine","Oldfield pine","Bull pine"],"family":"Pinaceae","type":"conifer","mature_height_m":25,"mature_spread_m":10,"growth_rate":"fast","lifespan_years":null,"hardiness_zones":[6,9],"sun":"full","water":"medium","soil":"Acidic sandy or clay soils, moist to poorly drained; tolerates some alkalinity but not thin limestone","native_range":"Southeastern coastal plain and Piedmont from New Jersey to Florida and west to east Texas and southeastern Oklahoma","description":"The fastest-growing southern pine and the backbone of the East Texas timber industry, reaching 60-90 feet with a tall bare trunk and an oval crown of 6-10 inch needles in threes. It gives quick height and screening on acidic soils but is wind-prone, sheds needles and cones constantly, and is highly flammable near structures. Not suited to Austin's alkaline limestone.","care":"Plant small seedlings in full sun on acidic, well-drained to moist soil; water through the first summer. Little pruning is needed beyond removing dead lower limbs. Watch for southern pine beetle and pine engraver beetle, especially in drought-stressed trees, and fusiform rust galls. Keep it at least 30 feet from the house for fire and wind safety.","benefits":["fast_canopy","wildlife","birds","carbon","windbreak"],"uses":["timber","reforestation","windbreak","parks","screening"],"cautions":["pest_prone","weak_wood","heavy_litter"],"image_url":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6e/Loblolly_Pines_South_Mississippi.JPG","image_credit":"Woodlot, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons","sources":["https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/PITA","https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=PITA","https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/pinus-taeda/"],"data_note":null,"updated_at":"2026-11-08T01:00:46.205Z","page_url":"https://treerm.org/trees/pinus-taeda","markdown_url":"https://treerm.org/trees/pinus-taeda.md","regions":[{"country":"US","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":"Also native in: DC, DE, IL, KY, MD, NJ, VA (USDA PLANTS distribution)","source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/PITA"},{"country":"US","region":"AL","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/PITA"},{"country":"US","region":"AR","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/PITA"},{"country":"US","region":"FL","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/PITA"},{"country":"US","region":"GA","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/PITA"},{"country":"US","region":"LA","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/PITA"},{"country":"US","region":"MS","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/PITA"},{"country":"US","region":"NC","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/PITA"},{"country":"US","region":"OK","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/PITA"},{"country":"US","region":"SC","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/PITA"},{"country":"US","region":"TN","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/PITA"},{"country":"US","region":"TX","locality":null,"status":"native","note":"Native to the pineywoods of east Texas and the Lost Pines near Bastrop; not suited to Central Texas limestone","source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/PITA"},{"country":"US","region":"DC","locality":"Washington","status":"recommended","note":"On the Casey Trees Tree Rebate eligible species list","source_url":"https://caseytrees.org/rebate"},{"country":"US","region":"GA","locality":"Atlanta","status":"recommended","note":"On the Trees Atlanta Top 50 Atlanta Trees list","source_url":"https://treesatlanta.org/resources/50-atlanta-trees/"},{"country":"US","region":"TX","locality":"Dallas","status":"recommended","note":"On the City of Dallas Article X Approved Tree List","source_url":"https://dallas.gov/departments/sustainabledevelopment/buildinginspection/DCH%20documents/pdf/BI_Approved%20Tree%20List.pdf"},{"country":"US","region":"TX","locality":"Houston","status":"recommended","note":"On the City of Houston Planning and Development Department Street Tree List","source_url":"https://www.houstontx.gov/planning/DevelopRegs/StreetTree_files/StreetTree.xlsx"}],"license":"CC-BY-4.0"}