# loblolly pine (*Pinus taeda*) The loblolly pine is a tall tree that grows straight and tall. It has long, green needles and produces big pine cones. These trees are important for wildlife and help make our air clean. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Southern Pine ![loblolly pine](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Loblolly_Pines_South_Mississippi.JPG&width=800) Photo: Woodlot, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Loblolly_Pines_South_Mississippi.JPG) ## Appearance The loblolly pine is a tall, straight tree with a reddish-brown, scaly bark. It has long, slender needles, typically bundled in threes, giving its dense, oval-shaped crown a textured look. Its needles are distinctly longer than many other pine species. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Pinopsida - **Order:** Pinales - **Family:** Pinaceae - **Genus:** Pinus ## Interesting facts - Its name 'loblolly' might come from an old word for a thick porridge, referring to muddy places it grows! - Loblolly pines can shoot their seeds far from their cones when they dry out! - The sticky sap from loblolly pines was once used to help seal and waterproof wooden ships! - These super trees can produce so much pollen it looks like yellow clouds in the spring! ## Special abilities - **Speedy Sprout:** Loblolly pine grows quickly, which helps it reach sunlight fast and outcompete other plants. - **Anchoring Roots:** Loblolly pine has a deep taproot that helps it stand firm in strong winds and find water far underground. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 2500-4500 cm - **Spread:** 600-1200 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late winter to early spring - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Eastern Gray Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-gray-squirrel) (*Sciurus carolinensis*) — gathers and eats its seeds from cones - **Parasitizes:** Southern Pine Beetle (*Dendroctonus frontalis*) — bores into the bark, weakening the tree - **Shelter:** [Brown-headed Nuthatch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-headed-nuthatch) (*Sitta pusilla*) — nests in old snags, finding safe homes - **Eats:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — browses on young seedlings and tender shoots ## Traits - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Coniferous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coniferous): Coniferous plants are typically evergreen, bearing needles or scales and reproductive cones. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Nut Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nut-bearing): Nut bearing plants produce hard-shelled fruits, commonly known as nuts, which contain a single seed and are a valuable food source. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Stay clear of falling branches and don't climb too high in trees. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify loblolly pine? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is loblolly pine? 2500-4500 cm ### How wide does loblolly pine spread? 600-1200 cm ### When does loblolly pine bloom? Late winter to early spring ### Is loblolly pine edible? No ### Is loblolly pine toxic? None ### What is loblolly pine's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is loblolly pine pollinated? Wind ## Where to spot - [Bastrop State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bastrop-state-park) — Texas, US · State Park - [Warm Springs Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/warm-springs-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Stone Mountain Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/stone-mountain-park) — Georgia, US · Natural Landmark - [Crooked Creek Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/crooked-creek-park) — Virginia, US · Park - [Lakewood Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lakewood-park) — Virginia, US · Park [View all places to see loblolly pine](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/loblolly-pine) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Loblolly Pine: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/loblolly-pine)