Hybrid Pine

Pinus rigida

Taxonomy

Division:: Coniferophyta | - Conifers
Family:: Pinaceae
Genus:: Pinus
Species:: Pinus rigida

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:: Perennial
Growth Habit:: Tree
Height:: More than 40 ft
Light Requirements:: Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:: Medium
Bloom Months:: mar, apr, may
Bloom Colors:: Green

Native Range

United States: Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, West Virginia, Canada: Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:: ★☆☆☆☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Bagworm moth (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis), Choristoneura maritima, Choristoneura sp., eastern pine shoot borer (Eucosma gloriola), European pine shoot moth (Rhyacionia buoliana), false sphinx (Lapara bombycoides), Gray-banded Zale (Zale squammularis), Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), Holcocera confluentella, Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis), Nantucket pine tip moth (Rhyacionia frustrana), Northern Pine Tussock Moth (Dasychira plagiata), oblique zale (Zale obliqua), Petrova comstockiana, pine devil moth (Citheronia sepulcralis), pine needleminer (Exoteleia pinifoliella), Pine Tussock Moth (Dasychira pinicola), pine webworm (Pococera robustella), pitch pine looper (Lambdina pellucidaria), pitch pine tip moth (Rhyacionia rigidana), Rhyacionia aktita, spruce coneworm (Dioryctria reniculella), Variable Climbing Cutworm (Xestia elimata), webbing coneworm moth (Dioryctria disclusa), Zale helata, Zale submediana, Eastern Tailed-Blue (Incisalia niphon)

Reported Fauna Sightings

Butterflies:American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis), azure (Celastrina Tutt), Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes), Brown Elfin (Callophrys augustinus), Brown Elfin (Callophrys augustinus), Canadian Tiger Swallowtail (Pterourus canadensis), Eastern Pine Elfin (Callophrys niphon), Eastern Pine Elfin (Callophrys niphon), Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), Hoary Elfin (Callophrys polios), Hoary Elfin (Callophrys polios), Horace's Duskywing (Gesta Evans), Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa), Northern Azure (Celastrina lucia), Northern Azure (Celastrina lucia), Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon), Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:: sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil
pH:: 4.0 - 6.5 (acidic to slightly acidic)
Drainage:: excellent drainage required
Moisture:: dry to moderate
Notes:: Commonly found in sandy barrens and rocky outcrops.

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: Seeds are cold stratified for 30 to 90 days and then germinate at 21 C. Alternatively, seeds can be sown in outdoor nursery beds in the fall to allow natural germination in the spring.

Establishment: P. rigida is found from New Brunswick to southern Quebec and Ontario, and south to Georgia. It is dominant in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. It grows in dry sandy soil. The protocols vary in the pre-treatment of seeds.

Source: npn.rngr.net