Pinus taeda
Loblolly Pines are large
trees, growing up to 100 feet tall. Along with Eastern White
Pine and Virginia Pine, it is one of our most common pine
trees. The easiest way to tell them apart is to count the
needles.
Loblolly Pines have clusters of three needles, Virginia
Pines have clusters of two, and Eastern White Pines have
clusters of five. Loblolly Pines grow in
forests
and fields.
In fields, they are a pioneer
tree, meaning they are one of the first trees to
grow. The trunks
of Loblolly Pines can be up to three feet wide. The
bark
is thick, scaly, and dark grey. Underneath are brown
layers. Leaves are needles, in
clusters of three, with each one being about six or seven
inches long. Needles stay green all year. Trees of Alabama and the
Southeast, Photographer: Mike Hogan Photo courtesy of North
Carolina State University The flowers of this tree
are usually yellowish-orange. They give way to
cones.
Loblolly pinecones are three to five inches long, dull
brown, and prickly. Loblolly Pines grow
quickly, and they can grow in wet or dry soils. Some other
plants that grow with this tree include: Eastern White Pine,
Virginia Pine, White Oak, Southern Red Oak, Willow Oak,
Sweetgum, Eastern Redcedar, Red Maple, Yellow Poplar,
Sassafras, American Beech, American Elm, Flowering Dogwood,
American Holly, Smooth Sumac, Highbush Blueberry, and
Tussock Sedge. Virginia Tech
