Habitat

• native to the east-central coast of the United States
• cold hardy to zone 5

Habit and Form

• evergreen tree
• broadly pyramidal in shape when young, more flat-topped and irregular with age
• varies in size from 10' to 50' tall with a slightly smaller spread
• fine to medium texture
• slow growth rate

Summer Foliage

• serrated, pointed needles
• 2 needles per fasicle
• needles have a slight twist
• needles roughly 3" long
• dark green

Autumn Foliage

• no fall color (evergreen)
• needles turn yellow-green in winter
• needles persist 4 years

Flowers

• monoecious
• no ornamental value

Fruit

• dark brown or reddish brown cone; shiny
• conical in shape
• held alone or in clusters of 2 to 4
• persist after maturing
• mature after 2 years
• cones have a thorn-like attachment, which is quite sharp

Bark

• reddish brown
• generally smooth, but eventually develops scales and plates
• new stems are slender with a purplish tint

Culture

• prefers a dry, deep, loam soil
• adaptable to poor soils
• low salt tolerance
• full sun
• needs little pruning

Landscape Uses

• bonsai
• used as a Christmas tree in southeastern United States
• highway medians
• buffer zones

Liabilities

• sharp cones and pointed needles
• weak crotch angles
• easily damaged by mechanical impact (soil compaction, string trimmers)
• susceptible to pitch canker, pine sawflies, and Ips beetles

ID Features

• purplish new growth
• needles in 2's and sharp
• cones have a sharp attachment

Propagation

• seed; stratification improves germination

Cultivars/Varieties

'Wate's Golden' - The only commonly available cultivar is this yellow-foliaged novelty. The yellow is brilliant in winter, muting to green in summer.