Do Long-Needle Pines Grow in Tennessee?

Loblolly Pine

• Mostly found on tree plantations in Tennessee -- with occasional stands growing in the wild -- the loblolly pine’s (Pinus taeda) luxurious 5- to 9-inch needles grow in clusters of three. So flexible they can be bent in half without breaking, the needles typically grow in ball-shaped clusters near the tree’s crown. Under normal conditions, the tree reaches a mature height of 50 to 80 feet; under ideal conditions it can reach 150 feet. A fast-growing tree with thick, fire-resistant bark, the loblolly pine provides windbreak, dappled shade or a focal point to your landscape. It thrives in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6b through 9.

White Pine

• With needles shorter than the loblolly’s -- but still lengthy -- the white pine (Pinus strobus) produces soft, blue-green needles 3 to 5 inches long. Growing in bundles of five, each needle sports a thin white strip on its underside. This common Tennessee tree develops an asymmetrical shape with age. Planted in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 8, the fast-growing white pine reaches a mature height of 50 to 80 feet with a spread of 20 to 40 feet. It is ideal as a specimen in the landscape.

Shortleaf Pine

• Contrary to its name, the shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata) grows 3- to 5-inch needles -- identical in length to the white pine. Slender and dark green, the needles cluster in bunches of two or three. In Tennessee you typically find shortleaf pines growing alone amid a cluster of hardwoods. Reaching a mature height of 50 to 60 feet, these pines do best in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 through 9. The “echinata” part of shortleaf’s botanical name derives from the Latin word for hedgehog, a nod to the tree’s noticeably prickly cones.

Virginia Pine

• The shortest-needled of the common Tennessee pines -- typically 1 1/2 to 3 inches -- the Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana) is often found growing in the state as a solid stand of trees or occasionally mixed with other pines. With two slightly twisted needles per bundle that turn a yellow-green in winter, the Virginia pine has noticeably flaky brown bark. Exhibiting a slow to moderate growth rate, it reaches a mature height of 15 to 40 feet, with a 10- to 30-foot spread. Although not overly ornamental, the branches make a pleasing addition to yule decorations, and the seeds provide food for birds. It prefers growing in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 8.