How to Tell the Difference Between a Short & Long Leaf Pine Tree

Observe the size and form of these pine trees. Shortleaf pine has a trunk with a smaller diameter, with most in the 2-foot range. The trunk of longleaf pine is considerably bigger, being as wide as 4 feet. Both trees are tall, but a longleaf pine grows to 125 feet on occasion; the shortleaf variety rarely exceeds 100 feet. Longleaf pine has a rounded crown, while the crown of shortleaf pine is short and oval.

Examine the needles of the longleaf and shortleaf pines, looking for distinct differences in size. Longleaf pine needles are between 10 and 18 inches long, flexible and dark green. They develop in bundles of threes. Shortleaf pine needles, in bundles of twos, are blue-green, flexible, but just 3 to 5 inches in length.

Inspect the woody cones of these southern pine species. They are very different, beginning with their size. The cones of longleaf pine are between 6 and 12 inches long, curved and they feature small prickles on their scales. Cones on shortleaf pine are egg-shaped. They are between 1 ½ to 2 ½ inches long.

Study the bark of shortleaf pine as opposed to longleaf pine. Shortleaf pine has dark fissures dividing thick, reddish-brown flat plates on its trunk. Longleaf pine bark has red-brown scaly plates.

Look at the heartwood of these pines when the chance arises. Shortleaf pine has fine-grained wood with an orange-brown color. The wood seems heavy and it is hard. Longleaf pine's heartwood, yellow to orange in color, is more resinous than that of the shortleaf species.