Leaves
Needles are in clusters of three with each one being about 6 or 7 inches long. The needles stay green all year. The cones are 3 to 5" long, dull brown and prickly.
Bark
The bark is variable, thick, scaly and gray on young trees, older trees with rounded ridges and deep furrows, gray-brown to red-brown.
Plantation
A thinned plantation of Loblolly pine
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Loblolly Pine
(Pinus taeda)
Loblolly Pine
Clarke County Champion
Habit
Somewhat pyramidal in youth losing its lower branches with age, forming an open oval or rounded crown. The species is a fast grower attaining heights of 90f or more. County champion, Diameter. 40.4h Ht. 99f
Previously featured Trees of the Piedmont
- the White Oak
- the Eastern Redcedar
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General
Loblolly pine is without doubt the most valuable pine species growing in the State of Georgia including the Piedmont. Loblolly is easy to transplant and is propagated widely for various forest products, an industry that ranks second only to agriculture in economic importance in Georgia. Southern pine
beetle and fusiform rust can be devastating to the species. Witches brooms are anomalies but are seldom fatal.
Fusiform rust
Pine Beetle Damage
Witches Broom
Landscape Values
Not often considered a landscape tree, the Loblolly pine provides a quick screen in many cases and adds a high shade accent in the background. Keep drip zone away from parked cars. The tall straight trunks lend an evergreen majesty to any neighborhood. With age, base swelling is common for the species and should be considered normal.
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