Loblolly Pine
Pinus taeda
Loblolly pines provide important habitat for wildlife, such as the Delmarva fox squirrel. Above, a Delmarva fox squirrel descends from the crown of a loblolly pine tree at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Dorchester County, Md., on Dec. 18, 2020. The squirrel was eating seeds from pine cones before seeking shelter in a tree cavity. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program)
Loblolly pine trees can grow as high as 90 feet. Above, a forest of loblolly pine trees borders wetlands at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, seen from the observation deck at Wildlife Drive in Dorchester County, Md., on June 8, 2019. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program)
As loblolly pines mature, their bark separates into scaly, deeply furrowed plates. Above, a loblolly pine tree grows at Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center in Grasonville, Md., on Feb. 14, 2011. (Photo by Matt Rath/Chesapeake Bay Program)
Loblolly pines have brown, oval cones that grow to 3-6 inches and have short thorns. Needles usually grow in clusters of three per fascicle. Above, a loblolly pine tree grows at Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center in Grasonville, Md., on Nov. 6, 2016. The center is home to wetland and forest habitat. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program)
The loblolly pine is a tall evergreen tree with long, thin needles and scaly bark. It grows along the edges of the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal rivers and wetlands.
Appearance
Long, thin, dark green or greenish-yellow needles that grow on the loblolly pine in bundles of three. The tree's brown, oval cones grow to 3 to 6 inches and have short thorns. Its bark is dark brown or brownish-red bark and separates into scaly, deeply furrowed plates as the tree matures. Its tall, straight trunk has no knots for up to 30 feet high. Loblolly pines will grow 70 to 90 feet tall.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Reproductive buds form in June and flower in July to August. Male and female buds develop in October, but remain dormant until early February. Male buds are about one inch long and are greenish, yellowish or reddish. They form clusters on the previous year’s growth. Female buds are oval-shaped and slightly smaller. They form on new growth and are fertilized the following spring. Cones, which contain the tree’s seeds, mature by the second October after flowering begins. Loblolly pines can live as long as 275 years.
Did You Know?
- The loblolly pine provides important habitat for wildlife, particularly bald eagles.
- Early colonists boiled loblolly pine resin into pitch or tar to preserve wooden boats and ship riggings.
- Loblolly pines are considered the most commercially valuable type of wood in the southern United States. They are used for pulp, mulch and timber.
Sources and Additional Information
- Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping: Chesapeake Bay Watershed – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Life in the Chesapeake Bay by Alice Jane Lippson and Robert L. Lippson
- Chesapeake Bay: Nature of the Estuary, A Field Guide by Christopher P. White
- PLANTS Profile for Pinus taeda – USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
- Loblolly Pine – U.S. Forest Service
Quick Facts
Species
Native
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Size
Can grow to 70 to 90 feet tall
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Habitat
Grow in a variety of soils, from dry upland areas to poorly drained lowlands. Common along the edges of the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal rivers and wetlands. One of the first trees that will colonize marshes and abandoned fields.
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Range
Throughout the Bay’s coastal plain, including Delaware, Maryland and Virginia; rare north of the Bay.
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Lifespan
275 years -
Status
Stable
