Pinus glabra aka Spruce Pine

Pinus glabra is an evergreen tree in the pine family. Its common names include spruce pine, cedar pine, and Walter's pine. It grows wild across the southeastern United States. Its range runs from southern South Carolina to Louisiana and northern Florida. It grows among hardwoods in river valleys, swamps, and bottomlands. It seldom forms stands made up of only pines.

Garden trees reach about 30–50 feet (9.1–15.2 metres) tall. Their spread reaches 30–40 feet (9.1–12.2 metres). Wild trees can reach 90–100 feet (27.4–30.5 metres). Growth is slow, and the crown is oval or rounded. Some trees have a more open crown. The trunk may grow straight in open sites. Under taller trees, it can bend and twist. Young twigs are thin, smooth, and reddish brown or purple. They turn gray with age.

The dark green needles grow in pairs and twist slightly. Sources give needle lengths of about 1.5–4 inches. Thin bark has shallow cracks and reddish gray-brown tones. Older bark can become darker and scaly near the base. Bark higher on the trunk may stay smooth and gray. This tree makes cones rather than flowers. Cone production starts at about ten years old. Brown seed cones stay on branches for several years. Sources give cone lengths from 1.5 to 5 inches. Purple-brown pollen cones cluster near twig tips, above the seed cones.

In gardens, spruce pine needs full sun and steady soil moisture. It also tolerates shade well in its native woods. Moist or wet sites suit it, including stream and pond edges. It does not tolerate flooding that lasts a long time. NC State lists USDA hardiness zones 8a through 9b. The tree needs little routine care and resists deer. Gardeners use it for shade, screens, and windbreaks. It also serves as a lawn specimen or woodland tree. Other uses include bonsai and Christmas trees.

Squirrels, other mammals, and northern bobwhite eat its seeds. Imperial moth caterpillars feed on the tree. Its brittle wood and poor wind resistance raise storm concerns. Its thin bark gives it little protection from fire. NC State also lists high flammability. Bark beetles can attack it, including the southern pine beetle. Gall mites damage shoot tips and cause galls. Cankers can cause branches to die back. The supplied sources do not establish human edibility or toxicity.