Cooperative Living January/February 2022 - 30

BRANCHING OUT
LoblollyPine
A tree that reaches for the sky
by Steve Carroll, Contributing Columnist
by teve Carroll, Contributing Columnist
y
A
cross much ofthe southeast U.S., including in the
mid-Atlantic, pines are a prominent part ofour
forests andwoodlands. And, ofall the pines that grow
here, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) is plantedmore often than
any ofits cousins.
Much ofthis planting is in commercial plantations, where
trees are grown for later harvest. Loblolly also seeds in on its
own and is planted by private landowners as specimen trees,
wind breaks and allées, or linedwalkways. One reason for this
popularity, both for homeowners and
commercial operations, is that this tree
grows quickly.
The natural range for loblolly is
from southernNewJersey to northern
Florida, and along the GulfofMexico
to easternTexas. It is more common
near the coast, but inVirginia, it
reaches into the Piedmont and
beyond.
Loblolly establishes in upland
forests, in old fields (old-field pine is
another ofits names), along rivers and
swamp edges and in poorly drained depressions. Its common
name likely stems from these moist depressions, in some areas
called loblollies.
LOBLOLLY TRAIT
Loblolly prefers acidic to slightly acidic soil and does not
growwell in shade. As a result, by 40 to 50 years, other trees
typically overtop it, eventually shading it out. Loblolly also
tolerates fire less well than the closely related longleafpine,
thoughmature trees canwithstand low-level burns.
Amature loblolly pine is a striking tree. On favorable sites
it can reach 60 to 100 feet tall or more with a diameter of 3 to
4 feet. Its aromatic, yellow-green needles are 6 to 9 inches long
Loblolly branches
and needles
Its common
name likely stems
from moist
depressions called
loblollies.
and, like longleafand pitch pine, grow
in bundles ofthree. This distinguishes it
from two-needle pines, such as Virginia and
table mountain pine and the five-needle Easternwhite pine.
Loblolly typically sheds lower branches as it grows,
resulting in rounded crowns.Whenmature, its bark forms
thick, broad, flat-topped plates. Loblolly is susceptible to ice
and snowdamage, while hybrids with pitch pine tolerate these
environmental stresses better.
As with other pines, individual trees
produce bothmale and female cones.
The small male cones last long enough
to shed pollen, while the seed-bearing
female cones are larger and sturdier
and are held on the tree even after the
seeds disperse.
LOBLOLLY USES
Loblollywood is used for
plywood, construction lumber and
pulpwood. It's the most important
timber tree in the Southeast, where it's
often lumpedwith related species and called southern yellow
pine. InVirginia, loblollymakes up nearly halfofthe wood
harvested each year.
Stands ofloblolly are also important towildlife,
supporting, among others, red-cockadedwoodpeckers, bald
eagles, osprey and songbirds such as brown-headed nuthatches
and yellow-throatedwarblers. It provides habitat for deer,
squirrels and other mammals, and it's a host plant for many
moth species.
Amature loblolly is truly amagnificent tree. Ifyou live in
a fire-prone area, don't plant it near buildings, but ifyou have
a suitable spot on your property, consider planting one, then
watch it reach for the sky. 
Cones and bark
of a mature loblolly pine
Steve Carroll is a botanist and ecologist
who speaks and writes about trees, gardening
and the world of plants. He is the co-author
of " Ecology for Gardeners, " published by
Timber Press.
28 ● Cooperative Living ●
January-February 2022
co-opliving.com
PHOTO COURTESY
ERIN LUNSFORD JONES VIA FLICKR
PHOTO COURTESY JALEXARTIS
PHOTOGRAPHY VIA FLICKR
PHOTO COURTESY YVONNE HELTON VIA FLICKR
PHOTO COURTESY JUDY GALLAGHER VIA FLICKR
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Cooperative Living January/February 2022

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