Growing loblolly pine in the South Atlantic States

Abstract

Loblolly pine is one of the most valuable tree in the South. It grows to large size faster than any of the other ou them pines. Loblolly pine is easy to recognize. The needles are 6 to 9 inches long growing in clu ters of 3 ( occasionally 2) . I ts cones are usually 3 to 5 inche long having short sharp spines. On young trees the bark is nearly black and scaly; on older trees it is 1 to 2 inches thick and divided into irregular dark-brown scaly block . Mature tree are generally 80 to 100 feet high, having a tall, traight trunk with larger specim ns averaging about 2 f et in diameter ( fig. 1). Branches are short thick and much divided, the lower branches spreading and the upper ascending and forming a compact round-topped head. In variou localities the tree is al o known as North Carolina pine, old-fi Id pine, . outhern pine, or hortkaf pine. However, it should not be confused with the true shortleaf with which it often arows. At th same age loblolly is gc-nerally larger, with heavier and longer branches, and has longer need! s ai:id much larger cones than shortleaf pine

Citation

Lotti, Thomas. 1956. Growing loblolly pine in the South Atlantic States. Farmers' Bulletin No. 2097. Washington, DC: USDA Forest Service Forest Service, Southeastern Forest Experiment Station. 33 p.