# Virginia pine (*Pinus virginiana*) The Virginia pine is a tall tree with long, soft needles that grow in pairs. It has a rough, scaly bark and produces small, woody cones. This tree is great for providing homes for birds and other animals! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Virginia pine](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/2013-05-10_11_01_36_Virginia_Pine_along_the_Mount_Misery_Trail_in_Brendan_T._Byrne_State_Forest%252C_New_Jersey.jpg&width=800) Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2013-05-10_11_01_36_Virginia_Pine_along_the_Mount_Misery_Trail_in_Brendan_T._Byrne_State_Forest%252C_New_Jersey.jpg) ## Appearance The Virginia pine is a medium-sized evergreen conifer with short, twisted, dark green needles growing in bundles of two. Its bark is reddish-brown and scaly, often forming small, irregular plates. It often has a unique, somewhat scrubby or open crown shape. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Pinopsida - **Order:** Pinales - **Family:** Pinaceae - **Genus:** Pinus ## Interesting facts - Its small cones often stay on the tree for many years, like tiny decorations! - Its wood makes a loud crackling fire, a favorite for cozy winter campfires! - Squirrels and birds love to munch on the seeds hidden inside its prickly cones. - The resin, or sap, of the Virginia pine can act like a sticky natural bandage! ## Special abilities - **Pioneer Power:** Virginia pine can grow where other trees can't by thriving in poor, dry soil that most plants avoid. - **Storm Survivor:** Virginia pine has tough, flexible branches that help it bend instead of break during strong winds and storms. - **Root Anchor:** Virginia pine has a strong root system that helps it anchor firmly and find water even on steep slopes. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 600-1800 cm - **Spread:** 300-600 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — browse young saplings - **Eats:** [Eastern Gray Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-gray-squirrel) (*Sciurus carolinensis*) — consumes seeds from cones - **Shelter:** [Eastern Bluebird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-bluebird) (*Sialia sialis*) — builds nests in its branches - **Symbiotic with:** Chicken Fat Suillus (*Suillus americanus*) — forms beneficial root connection ## 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. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry. - [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. - [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 away from the sharp cones and branches when exploring around the tree. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Virginia 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 Virginia pine? 600-1800 cm ### How wide does Virginia pine spread? 300-600 cm ### When does Virginia pine bloom? Spring ### Is Virginia pine edible? No ### Is Virginia pine toxic? None ### What is Virginia pine's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is Virginia pine pollinated? Wind ## Where to spot - [Elk Neck State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/elk-neck-state-forest) — Maryland, US · Forest - [Hungry Mother State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hungry-mother-state-park) — Virginia, US · State Park - [Nuttallburg Coal Mining Complex and Town Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/nuttallburg-coal-mining-complex-and-town-historic-district) — West Virginia, US · Historic District - [Palmerton Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/palmerton-historic-district) — Pennsylvania, US · Historic District - [Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/soldiers-delight-natural-environment-area) — Maryland, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see Virginia pine](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/virginia-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: [Virginia pine: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/virginia-pine)