The Longleaf Pine

The Longleaf Pine. Pinus palustris. , "The tree that built Tidewater" , Also known as longstraw pine, Southern yellow pine, Georgia pine, About the Longleaf , The longleaf pine tree is one of only nine native species of pine found in Virginia. Historically, it was found from southeastern Virginia to Florida and as far west as Texas, covering over 90 million acres. Today only three percent of this geographic range remains., Environmental Importance , The longleaf pine is important for its ability to withstand high winds, resist fires, and as erosion control. The forests provide a habitat for many plants and animals including the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. Longleafs are also resistant to some insects, salty water, and ice damage., The Future , Recognizing the benefits of the longleaf pine, landowners are now planting these trees instead of loblollies., The Mariners' Museum and Park is partnering with Newport News Shipbuilding and The Nature Conservancy to plant longleaf pines. Honoring our shipbuilding heritage, Newport News Shipbuilding has dedicated specific trees to commemorate ships built at the shipyard. Each longleaf pine planted here is a way of giving back to the environment., History and Use , Five centuries ago, the longleaf pine was one of the most prevalent trees in southeastern Virginia. Colonial settlers harvested sap from the trees for the production of pitch and tar to seal and waterproof their ships. The long, straight-grained timber was ideal for construction, particularly shipbuilding, and was a popular export to England., Unfortunately, years of commercial logging and the conversion of land to agricultural use led to the decline of the longleaf pine. Some attempts were made to re-plant longleaf pine forests, but these slow-growing trees were replaced with faster growing loblolly pines., How They Grow , Longleaf pines are slow-growing, taking up to 20 years to produce their first cones. They can grow to be over 100 feet tall and live to be more than 300 years old, producing pine cones up to a foot long. Their needles grow to nearly 18" long - double those of a loblolly pine., Growth Stages: , Grass stage seedlings , Stem elongation , Mature