Pinus elliottii: Uses (Ethnobotany)
Important lumber tree. Russian used to produce steroids from pine pulp extractives in 1968 as well as turpentine used in perfumery, cigarettes, cosmetic, and toilet products.
Plant Profile: Pinus elliottii
Taxonomy: Pinus elliottiiNames
Slash Pine, Southern Florida Pine, Swamp Pine, Yellow Slash Pine
Phonetic Spelling:PY-nus el-ee-OT-ee-eye
Genus:Pinus
Species:elliottii
Family:Pinaceae
Slash Pine is a tall, slender tree characterized by a straight or twisted trunk and a crown that ranges from conical to egg-shaped, eventually becoming rounded or flattened as it matures. This species thrives in the poor soils found in sandhills, flatwoods, and areas adjacent to wet lowlands like swamps and ponds. Its strong wood and rapid growth make it a valuable timber tree, leading to its widespread cultivation.
In landscaping, Slash Pine can be utilized as a standout specimen, in clusters, or within naturalized settings. However, careful consideration of its placement is essential, as the tree tends to shed its lower limbs over time. It also flourishes in well-drained locations near ponds or streams.
Challenges associated with Slash Pine include leaf chlorosis, which can arise in alkaline soils or from irrigation with alkaline water. The most significant threats to its health are fusiform rust, root rot, and Fusarium moniliforme. Additionally, it is susceptible to insect pests such as weevils and sawflies.
Pinus elliottii Feature Summary
Tags
#evergreen
#drought tolerant
#wildlife plant
#blue green needles
#moths
#cover plant
#low maintenance
#attracts squirrels
#wet sites
#food source
#fast growing
#deer resistant
#nighttime garden
#lumber
#showy cones
#Braham Arboretum
#larval host plant
#evergreen tree
#sandy soils tolerant
#wet soils tolerant
#dry soils tolerant
#moth larvae
#pollinator garden
#imperial moth
Similar Plants
Pinus elliottii is often confused with:
Pinus elliottii Feature Summary
Attributes
Important lumber tree. Russian used to produce steroids from pine pulp extractives in 1968 as well as turpentine used in perfumery, cigarettes, cosmetic, and toilet products.
AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC, TX
This plant supports Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed. The seeds are an excellent food source for gray and fox squirrels and wild turkey. The dense foliage also provides cover and shelter for wildlife.
Woody
low flammability
Fruit
Not a fruit a cone. 3-6 inch elongated, oval, glossy brown cone has thin scales and fine prickles
Brown/Copper
> 3 inches
Flowers
No flowers, pollen cones are cylindrical-shaped, 1.2 to 1.6 inches long, and red to purplish in color. Seed cones are borne singly or in pairs and are ovoid or ovoid-cylindric when open. Cones measure 3-6 inches long, colored light reddish-brown and mature in 2 years.
Gold/Yellow
Red/Burgundy
Green
Winter
Leaves
5-11 in long flexible dark blue-green needles are borne 2-3 per fascicle.
Needled Evergreen
Green
Blue
Needles
Linear
Acicular
Entire
> 6 inches
< 1 inch
Bark
Red-brown and furrowed when young becoming very platy bark broken into irregular blocks scaly and flaking as it ages.
Dark Brown
Light Brown
Red/Burgundy
Scaly
Furrowed
Papery
Patchy
Irregular
Rectangle
Stem
Twigs are stout, rough and scaly, orange-brown, aging darker brown.
Brown/Copper
Orange
Whole Plant Traits
Tree
Needled Evergreen
Rounded
Erect
Oval
Rapid
Medium
Fine
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Wet
Occasionally Dry
24-60 feet
12-24 feet
Coastal
8b
8a
9a
9b
10a
10b
11a
11b
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Drought Tolerant Garden
Pollinator Garden
Nighttime Garden
Shade Garden
Mass Planting
Shade Tree
Accent
Screen/Privacy
Small groups
Specimen
Barrier
Drought
Deer
Salt
Dry Soil
Poor Soil
Recreational Play Area
Woodland
Lawn
Naturalized Area
Slope/Bank
Coastal
Pond
Pollinators
Moths
Small Mammals
Pinus elliottii Image Gallery
Pinus elliottii Attributes
Pinus elliottii: Country Or Region Of Origin
SE USA
Pinus elliottii: Distribution
AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC, TX
Pinus elliottii: Wildlife Value
This plant supports Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed. The seeds are an excellent food source for gray and fox squirrels and wild turkey. The dense foliage also provides cover and shelter for wildlife.
Pinus elliottii: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Pinus elliottii: Fire Risk Rating
extreme flammability
high flammability
low flammability
medium flammability
Pinus elliottii Fruit
Pinus elliottii: Fruit Description
Not a fruit a cone. 3-6 inch elongated, oval, glossy brown cone has thin scales and fine prickles
Pinus elliottii: Fruit Color
Brown/Copper
Pinus elliottii: Fruit Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Pinus elliottii: Fruit Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Pinus elliottii Flowers
Pinus elliottii: Flower Description
No flowers, pollen cones are cylindrical-shaped, 1.2 to 1.6 inches long, and red to purplish in color. Seed cones are borne singly or in pairs and are ovoid or ovoid-cylindric when open. Cones measure 3-6 inches long, colored light reddish-brown and mature in 2 years.
Pinus elliottii: Flower Color
Gold/Yellow
Green
Red/Burgundy
Pinus elliottii: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Pinus elliottii Leaves
Pinus elliottii: Leaf Description
5-11 in long flexible dark blue-green needles are borne 2-3 per fascicle.
Pinus elliottii: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Pinus elliottii: Leaf Color
Blue
Green
Pinus elliottii: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Pinus elliottii: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Pinus elliottii: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Pinus elliottii: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Pinus elliottii: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Pinus elliottii: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Pinus elliottii Bark
Pinus elliottii: Bark Description
Red-brown and furrowed when young becoming very platy bark broken into irregular blocks scaly and flaking as it ages.
Pinus elliottii: Bark Color
Dark Brown
Light Brown
Red/Burgundy
Pinus elliottii: Surface/Attachment
Bumpy
Exfoliating
Fissured
Furrowed
Lenticels
Papery
Patchy
Peeling
Ridges
Scaly
Shaggy
Shiny
Shredding
Smooth
Spongy
Pinus elliottii: Bark Plate Shape
Diamond
Irregular
Oval
Rectangle
Round
Square
Pinus elliottii Stem
Pinus elliottii: Stem Description
Twigs are stout, rough and scaly, orange-brown, aging darker brown.
Pinus elliottii: Stem Color
Brown/Copper
Orange
Pinus elliottii: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Pinus elliottii Whole Plant Traits
Pinus elliottii: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Pinus elliottii: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Pinus elliottii: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Pinus elliottii: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Pinus elliottii: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Pinus elliottii: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Pinus elliottii Cultural Conditions
Pinus elliottii: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Pinus elliottii: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Pinus elliottii: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Pinus elliottii: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Pinus elliottii: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Pinus elliottii: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
10a
10b
11a
11b
8a
8b
9a
9b
Pinus elliottii: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Pinus elliottii Landscape
Pinus elliottii: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Pinus elliottii: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Pinus elliottii: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Pinus elliottii: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Pinus elliottii: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
