Loblolly Pine

Loblolly pine, Pinus taeda, is the second most common tree species in the United States after Red Maple and is part of the group known in the timber industry as southern yellow pine. Found from central Texas to Florida and north to New Jersey, it is the most commercially valuable tree for timber in the southeastern United States. It is a fast-growing tree that can reach up to 100 feet tall and grows well in wet or dry soils once established. Its bark is thick, scaly, and dark gray, its flowers are yellowish orange, and they are followed by prickly 3-5 inch cones, with three needles in each cluster. Although it was a relatively minor species in the original Southern forests, Captain John Smith and others soon recognized its value in shipbuilding and general construction. The loblolly ecosystem provides food and shelter for many birds and animals, including the wild turkey, mourning dove, northern bobwhite, black-capped chickadee, American goldfinch, white-tailed deer, eastern gray squirrel, eastern cottontail, and the American bald eagle.

Maryland · United States