Pinus elliottii aka Longleaf Pitch Pine

Pinus elliottii, or slash pine, is an evergreen conifer. It belongs to the pine family, Pinaceae. Its native range lies in the southeastern United States. It grows along the Gulf and Atlantic coastal regions. Its range includes Louisiana, South Carolina, and Florida. It grows in sandhills, flatwoods, and near wet lowlands. Growers also raise it for timber in warm climates. The species has a reported Least Concern conservation status.

Garden trees reach 75–100 feet [23–30.5 metres] in height. Their crowns spread 35–50 feet [10.7–15.2 metres] wide. Other accounts give heights of 50–100 feet [15–30.5 metres]. Exceptional trees can reach about 131 feet [40 metres]. Growth is fast, and the trunk is slender. Young trees have a cone-shaped or oval crown. Older crowns grow rounder, flatter, and more open. Lower branches die and fall as trees grow. Young bark has red-brown tones and deep grooves. Older bark forms plates with thin, loose scales. Thick, rough twigs turn from orange-brown to darker brown. Long green or blue-green needles grow in bundles of two or three.

This pine makes cones rather than true flowers or fruit. It produces pollen cones in winter. These small cones have red to purple tones. Wind carries the pollen. Seed cones grow alone or in pairs. They turn glossy brown and take two years to mature. The scales bear small prickles. Squirrels and wild turkeys eat the seeds. The foliage shelters wildlife and feeds imperial moth larvae.

Full sun suits this tree, though it accepts partial shade. It grows in sand, loam, and clay. Acid soil and good drainage suit it best. Established trees can cope with some wet periods and drought. Sources differ on how well it withstands drought. Hardiness reports span USDA zones 7–11 or 8–11. Salt spray tolerance suits coastal sites. Gardeners use it alone, in groups, or in natural areas. Its open crown gives light shade, but makes a poor screen. Roots compete with lawns and shrubs for water.

Falling limbs and slippery needle litter can cause problems. Wind and ice can break branches or trunks. Alkaline soil or water can turn the needles yellow. Fusiform rust, root rot, and Fusarium disease can harm trees. Weevils and sawflies also attack them. The wood supplies lumber, pulp, and paper. Resin supplies turpentine and rosin for industrial uses. A food-use source gives it a low edibility rating. It does not establish this species' safety for eating. The evidence gives no firm species-specific toxicity assessment.