Pinus serotina aka Marsh Pine

Pinus serotina, or pond pine, is an evergreen tree. It belongs to the pine family, Pinaceae. Its native range runs from New Jersey to central Florida. It also extends southwest to Alabama. It grows in swamps, bogs, and near ponds. In North Carolina, it occurs on the Coastal Plain and eastern Piedmont.

The tree often forms a cone-shaped crown with crooked branches. Some trees have a thin, open crown and twisted trunk. Reported heights differ between sources. One gives 50 feet [15 metres] as the maximum. Another describes trees reaching 70 feet [21.3 metres]. The trunk measures about 1–2 feet [0.3–0.6 metres] across. Dark brown to reddish bark breaks into flat, scaly plates. Young twigs may look yellow-orange with a powdery coating. They darken with age.

The flexible, yellow-green needles may twist and cluster at branch tips. They measure 0.5–0.7 feet [0.15–0.20 metres] long. Most bundles hold three needles, though two or four can occur. Each needle lasts three to four years before falling. Stress can cause dormant buds along the trunk to sprout. These shoots form clear clumps of needles on the trunk. The tree can also sprout near its base after fire.

The spring bloom occurs in April. Rounded seed cones turn yellow-brown to dark brown as they mature. Their flat scales bear small spines that can break off. Cones measure about 0.17–0.25 feet [0.05–0.08 metres] long. They can hold living seeds for up to ten years. Fire melts the resin that keeps the cones shut. Wind and gravity then spread the seeds onto burned ground. The name serotina refers to this late release of seeds.

Pond pine grows in sun and also accepts partial shade. It tolerates varied soils, including sand, loam, and poor drainage. Moist to wet sites suit its natural growth pattern. Listed hardiness spans USDA zones 7–9. Growth is moderate, but waterlogged sites can slow it. Native gardens can use it for evergreen cover and wildlife habitat. It hosts imperial moth larvae and attracts birds and mammals. Its wood supplies pulp and lumber, though crooked trunks limit sawtimber use. Deer resistance does not prevent wind damage. Bark beetles, pine sawyers, engraver beetles, and weevils can cause problems. Pitch canker can cause dieback. The sources provide no human edibility or toxicity assessment.