Spruce pine is an evergreen tree in the Pinaceae family that is native from SC south to FL and west to LA. It is often found growing in wetland sites and is different from other pines as it doesn't tend to grow in pine stands. It can grow up to 80 feet tall but is usually 40-50 feet in height. It starts producing cones at 10 years of age. Spruce pine has a beautiful oval-rounded crown with dark green needles. The trunk can be straight but is often bent and twisted if growing in the understory. It will grow in a variety of locations with the exception of areas with fine soils and needs consistent moist to wet soils The seed cones persist on the tree for 2-3 years, providing food for wildlife. Use this tree in moist to wet sites as along streams or ponds. It makes a good windbreak and provides shade. This variety of pine is also used as a Christmas tree. Insect, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This tree is susceptible to wind damage. Canker diseases may occasionally cause dieback. Infected branches can be pruned. More information on Pinus .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil drainage
Occasionally Wet
Available space
24-60 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 80 ft. 0 in. | Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Oval; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Needled Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Needles
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf value
Long-lasting
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
2 to 4 in. slightly twisted, dark green needles in bundles of 2 per fascicle
Fall color
Gold/Yellow
Flower detail
No flowers
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit size
> 3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Fruit detail
Seed cones are 2.5-5 inches long, are brown at maturity and persist on the tree 2-3 years. Pollen cones are purplish brown, occur in clusters at the end of twigs and are higher on the tree than the seed cones
Bark color
Dark Brown; Dark Gray; Red/Burgundy
Bark detail
Greyish brown bark, becoming dark reddish brown and scaly with maturity.
Stem color
Gray/Silver; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Slender, smooth, colored purple-red to red-brown. Turn gray with age.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Southeast USA
Distribution
Southern SC west to southern LA to northern FL
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. Squirrels and other mammals eat the seeds along with the Northern bobwhite.
Attracts
Moths; Small Mammals; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall; Summer
Uses (ethnobotany)
Used as bonsai and christmas tree
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn; Meadow; Naturalized Area; Recreational Play Area; Woodland
Landscape theme
Nighttime Garden; Winter Garden
Design feature
Accent; Barrier; Border; Foundation Planting; Mass Planting; Screen/Privacy; Shade Tree; Small groups; Specimen