Virginia Pine

Pinus virginiana

Taxonomy

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

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:: Perennial
Growth Habit:: Tree
Height:: More than 40 ft
Light Requirements:: Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:: High
Bloom Months:: apr
Bloom Colors:: Yellow, Brown

Native Range

United States: Alabama, District of Columbia, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Canada: Ontario

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

Bethune's zale (Zale bethunei), Choristoneura maritima, Choristoneura sp., Cydia toreuta, Eucosma tocullionana, European pine shoot moth (Rhyacionia buoliana), Hypagyrtis esther, Manto Tussock Moth (Dasychira manto), Nantucket pine tip moth (Rhyacionia frustrana), One-spotted variant moth (Hypagyrtis unipunctata), Petrova wenzeli, pine needleminer (Exoteleia pinifoliella), Pine Tussock Moth (Dasychira pinicola), pitch pine tip moth (Rhyacionia rigidana), Red pinecone borer (Eucosma monitorana), Semiothisa bicolorata, Semiothisa distribuaria, Semiothisa granitata, Southern pine sphinx (Lapara coniferarum), Zale metatoides, Eastern Tailed-Blue (Incisalia niphon)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:: sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil
pH:: 4.5 - 6.0 (acidic to slightly acidic)
Drainage:: excellent drainage required
Moisture:: dry to moderate
Notes:: thrives in poor, rocky soils; common in disturbed areas

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: Seeds are soaked in water for 1 week prior to planting or placed under mist for 1 week. Seeds are then sown in the fall in outdoor nursery beds to allow natural stratification to occur.

Establishment: Cones for propagation are collected from mid-September to late-October in GRSM; late September to late November in CUGA and early November in Shenandoah. The general distribution of P. virginiana is from southern New York to southern Indiana, south to Georgia and Alabama, found in dry or sterile soil, especially in abandoned fields.

Source: npn.rngr.net