Pitch Pine

Pinus rigida

Pitch pine grows from central Maine to northern Georgia. Outlying populations grow as far west as western Kentucky. It also grows in southwestern Quebec and southeastern Ontario. Its native range includes southern Maine to eastern Ohio, south to Vermont and mountainous Tennessee, Georgia, and Kentucky, as well southwestern Quebec and southeastern Ontario. It tolerates a wide range of soils but prefers moist, well-drained soils and full sun. It's also salt tolerant, resistant to damage by deer, and will form sprouts from its roots and stumps after fire damage.

Fruit: A stout cone produced in whorls of 3-5. The spines on each scale are stiff and curved. Fruit displays September-October.

Flowers: A 3"-6", light brown, non-showy flower. They bloom in May.

Uses: Pitch pines are used for lumber and wood pulp.

Ethnobotany: Native Americans used to use the pitch as a laxative and turpentine. Colonists used the resin for turpentine and made axel grease out of tar. Pine knots could be fastened to a pole to form a torch.

Importance to wildlife: Pitch pines are a larval host for Imperial Moths. Wild boars sometimes eat the bark. Deer browse seedlings and sprouts.

The young tree that the majority of these pictures were taken from. Pitch pines are medium-sized coniferous trees that grow to 40-70 feet tall. They can also grow as shrubs, mats, and dwarf-stature trees depending on the location.

The bark of a nearby mature pitch pine. Bark is brown and broken into rough, irregular plates separated by deep, narrow furrows.

Two fascicles. Most fascicles on a pitch pine have three needles.

The characteristic twisting of a pitch pine needle. Needles are 5-14 cm long and dark yellowish green.

A stem on a pitch pine, showing a terminal bud, leaf arrangement, and papery fascicle sheaths. Needles stand out at nearly a right angle from the twig. Buds are conical, resinous, and reddish brown.

A pitch pine cone. This cone fell from the mature tree nearby as the younger one isn't producing yet. Cones are 4-8 cm long and have stout rigid prickles on scales.

Page updated

Report abuse