Loblolly Pine
Pinus taeda
A large coniferous evergreen tree featuring long needles bundled in fascicles, typically in groups of three, and scaly brown bark.
- Light
- Full sun, requiring at least six hours of direct sunlight daily
- Water
- Moderate water requirements; drought tolerant once established, preferring deep, infrequent watering
- Growth
- Large evergreen tree with an upright, straight trunk and an open, rounded crown at maturity, growing 60 to 90 feet tall with a spread of 30 to 50 feet at a fast growth rate
Care instructions
Provide full sunlight, well-draining acidic soil, and moderate watering until established. Pruning is generally not required except to remove dead or damaged branches.
Growing details
Sunlight
Full sun, requiring at least six hours of direct sunlight daily
Watering
Moderate water requirements; drought tolerant once established, preferring deep, infrequent watering
Soil
Prefers acidic, moist, sandy, or loamy soils with good drainage, with a pH range between 4.5 and 6.0
Hardiness zone
USDA Hardiness Zones 6 through 9
Growth habit
Large evergreen tree with an upright, straight trunk and an open, rounded crown at maturity, growing 60 to 90 feet tall with a spread of 30 to 50 feet at a fast growth rate
Bloom season
Non-flowering; produces inconspicuous wind-pollinated reproductive cones in spring
Propagation
Propagated primarily from seeds sown in spring after cold stratification, or through commercial containerized seedlings
Common pests & issues
Susceptible to southern pine beetles, tip moths, and rust diseases, which can be managed by maintaining tree vigor and proper spacing
Similar species
Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris), which features much longer needles and larger cones, and Shortleaf Pine (Pinus echinata), which has shorter needles typically in bundles of two and three