Loblolly Pine — Growing reference
| Scientific name | Pinus taeda |
|---|---|
| Seed germination (days) | 14–30 |
| Soil temperature for germination (°C) | 18.3–23.9 |
| First harvest or flowering (days) | 3650–7300 |
| Measured from | Transplant |
| Plant spacing (cm) | 609.6–1219.2 |
| Mature height (cm) | 2743.2–3657.6 |
| Mature spread (cm) | 914.4–1219.2 |
| USDA hardiness zones | 6–9 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Water | Moderate |
| Sowing method | Transplant |
Growing directions
Plant container-grown or bare-root seedlings in fall or early spring in average to moist, acidic, well-drained soil in full sun; loblolly pine grows quickly on a wide range of soils and is the dominant commercial timber pine of the southeastern and Gulf coastal plain. Long, dark green needles in bundles of three clothe a fast-growing, straight-trunked tree that can add two or more feet of height per year on a good site, eventually reaching well over 100 feet with a broad, rounded crown at maturity, making it one of the most economically important timber and pulpwood trees in the American South. It reseeds itself readily on disturbed and cutover ground and is a familiar, defining tree of the region's forests, providing habitat and seed for a wide range of birds and mammals including favored nesting habitat for red-cockaded woodpeckers in older stands. Give it plenty of room to reach full size, since it is not a small-yard tree, and avoid planting where ice storms or hurricane-force wind could bring down large limbs near structures.
Source and local conditions
Typical planning ranges from OpenPlantDB (CC0). Cultivar, climate, season and growing method can change these values. Confirm the seed label and local guidance before planting.
Source & verification
OpenPlantDB · CC0