Slash Pine
Pinus elliottii
A fast-growing southern yellow pine of the Coastal Plain, widely planted in plantations for pulp and timber and historically tapped for turpentine and rosin. Long-needled and quick to establish on moist sandy flatwoods; a southern pine beetle host and prone to fusiform rust galls.
Field reference
Family
Pinaceae
Growth rate
Fast
Mature size
60–100 ft tall, 30–45 ft spread
Hardiness zone
7–10
Soil preference
Moist, sandy, acidic flatwoods; tolerates seasonally wet ground
Sun
Full sun
Pruning window
Dormant season; self-prunes to a high crown
Wood properties
Dense, strong, very resinous southern yellow pine (~0.54 SG) for structural lumber, poles, and pulp; long a source of turpentine and rosin (naval stores). Fast, straight stems.
Native range
Southeastern United States Coastal Plain, South Carolina to Florida and Louisiana
Green weight
55 lb/ft³
Pests & diseases to watch
Common questions
Why is slash pine so widely planted?
Its fast growth, straight form, and adaptability to moist sandy soils make it a workhorse plantation tree for pulp and lumber across the Southeast, and it was central to the historic naval-stores (turpentine) industry.
What are the woody galls on my slash pine?
Spindle-shaped swellings on branches or stems are usually fusiform rust, a common fungal disease of southern pines. Prune out branch galls; stem galls on young trees are often fatal and warrant removal.
Related species in Pinaceae
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