Loblolly Pine
Pinus taeda
- Native to:
- United States
PumpkinSky
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Coniferophyta | - Conifers
- Family:
- Pinaceae
- Genus:
- Pinus
- Species:
- Pinus taeda
- USDA Symbol:
- PITA
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- 3000 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★★★☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Battaristis vittella, Cacao moth (Cydia erotella), Cydia ingens, Dioryctria pygmaeella, Dioryctria taedae, Dioryctria taedivorella, Eucosma nr. caecana, European pine shoot moth (Rhyacionia buoliana), Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis), Melanocinclis lineigera, Nantucket pine tip moth (Rhyacionia frustrana), Petrova comstockiana, pitch pine tip moth (Rhyacionia rigidana), Pococera melanogrammos, Rhyacionia aktita, Shortleaf Pinecone Borer (Eucosma cocana), southern nepytia (Nepytia semiclusaria), Southern pine coneworm moth (Dioryctria amatella), Southern pine sphinx (Lapara coniferarum), Subtropical Pine Tip Moth (Rhyacionia subtropica), Variable Climbing Cutworm (Xestia elimata), webbing coneworm moth (Dioryctria disclusa), Eastern Tailed-Blue (Incisalia niphon)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Hummingbirds: Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) Moths:Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis), Southern pine sphinx (Lapara coniferarum)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Mature trees develop thick bark providing fire resistance; seedlings and saplings are fire-sensitive but mature trees resprout and recover well from moderate fire.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 4.5 - 6.5 (acidic to slightly acidic)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- Commonly found in the southeastern United States, thrives in poor, sandy soils.
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–28 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily after cold stratification; light not required but consistent moisture is important.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are cold stratified for 60 days
Source: npn.rngr.net