Pine, Slash Pinus elliottii
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Hardiness Zones 7 - 11The Slash Pine can be expected to grow in the zones shown in color in the arborday.org zone map. View Map
Type of treeEvergreens
Mature HeightThe Slash Pine grows to be 75' - 100' feet in height.
Mature SpreadThe Slash Pine has a spread of about 30' - 50' at full maturity.
SunThis pine does well in full sun, partial shade.
SoilThe Slash Pine grows in acidic, drought tolerant, loamy, sandy, well drained, wet, clay soils.
ShapeThis pine has oval, pyramidal shape.
The Slash Pine is a large tree suitable as a specimen tree or for use in parks or in open areas.
Slash Pine grows well on a variety of acidic soils in full sun or partial shade. It does poorly in basic soil (high pH) and so is not recommended for soils with high pH, or where irrigation water has a high pH. Once established, it is more tolerant of wet sites than most other Pines and is moderately salt-tolerant. It is not highly drought-tolerant but more so than most other Pines. The horizontal branches break easily in ice storms. Since shaded lower branches die and drop as the tree grows taller be careful not to plant them too close to high traffic areas where branches could fall on people or vehicles, unless there is a regular maintenance plan to remove them.
Slash pine seeds are important food for wild turkeys, and slash pine woodlands provide habitat for both wild turkeys and whitetail deer. Gray and fox squirrels will cut open cones to get at the pine seeds.
The Slash Pine is an important timber tree which produces heavy, strong wood for many types of construction.
The Slash Pine prefers well-drained soil but can grow on wetter sites.
The Slash Pine has long, dark-green needles throughout the year.
The blooms are yellow.
This tree flowers in early spring.
The Slash Pine produces an elongated cone from 2-6" in length.
Rate of growth refers to the vertical increase in growth unless specified differently. Rate, as is true for size, is influenced by numerous variables such as soil, drainage, water, fertility, light, exposure, ad infinitum. The designation slow means the plant grows 12” or less per year; medium refers to 13 to 24” of growth per year; and fast to 25” or greater.Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, by Michael Dirr.