Pinus palustris
Longleaf Pine

Mature Height: 80-120'     Longevity: 500 years

2-8 Water Range
Soil moisture tolerated by tree

7-9 Temperature Range
Hardiness Zones in which tree naturally occurs.

DEFENSE     Soil Moisture Key
2: Presence on well drained sandy ridges. Also FACU+ in Region 2.

8: Can be found in wet poorly-drained flatwoods.

DEFENSE (from Distribution Maps)
National Audubon Society (NAS) Map: (NORTH) Solid Z8 w/ significant intrusion into Z7 in AL. (SOUTH) Solid Z9

Peterson Field Guide (PFG) Map: (NORTH) More indication of presence in Z7 in NC & VA. (SOUTH) Same as NAS.

8   Sun Strength

2   Shade Strength

DEFENSE
Growth Rate:
Succession:
Soil Range:
Salt Tol.:
Allelopath:
Avg Height:
Max Height:

Click here for Key
6.5 = Rapid
+.7 = Pioneer Specialist
0 = 1 Major & 2 Minor
+.2 = Moderate
0 = No
+.2 = 95'
0 = 120'

DEFENSE
Shade Tol.:
Succession:
Soil Range:
Salt Tol.:
Allelopath:
Avg Height:
Longevity:

Click here for Key
1.7=veryintolerant-intolerant
-.4 = Pioneer Specialist
0 = 1 Major & 2 Minor
+.2 = Moderate
0 = No
+.2 = 95'
+.3 = 500 years

TOTAL SCORE (7.6): Maintains itself through mastery of fire as it can be overtopped by some faster growing pioneers & is very very weak in shade.

TOTAL SCORE (2.0): Tree can not compete with other pines much less hardwoods in the shade. Very low shade score, but very long life & height prevent lowest score.

6   Fire Strength

2   Wind Strength

DEFENSE
Base Score: High (Big Tree) = 5
While fire scale only goes to 5, longleaf assigned a 6 to emphasize that it is perhaps the tree best suited to sustaining itself in fire ecotypes.
Final Value = 6

DEFENSE
Base Score: ???
While tree is windfirm on good sites its identification as frequently overthrown on poor sites puts tree into lower wind category. Tree also grows very tall.
Final Value = 2