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Native Plant Database

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Pinus virginiana (Virginia pine)
Wasowski, Sally and Andy

Pinus virginiana P. Mill.

Virginia pine, Jersey pine, Scrub pine

Pinaceae (Pine Family)

USDA Symbol: pivi2

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Virginia pine is a straggling, scrubby evergreen, 15-40 ft. tall, becoming flat-topped with age. Outstretched limbs spring irregularly from the reddish-brown trunk. Cones are sharp to the touch due to prickly-like appendages. Short-needled tree with open, broad, irregular crown of long spreading branches; often a shrub.

Used principally for pulpwood and lumber, it is hardier than most pines and suitable for planting in poor dry sites. Common in old fields as a pioneer after grasses on hills of the Piedmont, growing rapidly and forming thickets. Later this pine is replaced by taller, more valuable hardwoods.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Linear
Leaf: Green
Fruit: Reddish brown
Size Class: 12-36 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Time: Apr

Distribution

USA: AL , DC , DE , GA , IN , KY , MD , MO , MS , NC , NJ , NY , OH , PA , SC , TN , VA , WV
Native Distribution: Long Island to PA & s. IN, s. to GA & n.e. MS
Native Habitat: Areas of poor, light soil in mountains and old fields
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(I)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Moist
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Soil Description: Poor, well-drained soils.
Conditions Comments: The species is valuable as cover for dry, barren sites. It dislikes shallow, chalky soils and is not tolerant of over-topping by other trees.

Benefit

Use Wildlife: Seeds are an important wildlife food.
Attracts: Birds

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Pinus virginiana is a larval host and/or nectar source for:
Eastern Pine Elfin
(Callophrys niphon)

Larval Host
Learn more at BAMONA

Propagation

Description: Propagate by seed.
Seed Collection: Not Available
Seed Treatment: Pretreatment is usually not necessary, but germination of pine seeds exhibiting dormancy can be hastened by cold stratification.
Commercially Avail: yes

From the National Suppliers Directory

According to the inventory provided by Associate Suppliers, this plant is available at the following locations:

Edge of the Woods Native Plant Nursery - Orefield, PA
American Native Nursery - Quakertown, PA

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Delaware Nature Society - Hockessin, DE
Georgia Native Plant Society - Atlanta, GA

Bibliography

Bibref 1186 - Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.
Bibref 1185 - Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright
Bibref 996 - Gardening with Native Plants of the South (1994) Wasowski, Sally and Andy Wasowski

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Pinus virginiana in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Pinus virginiana in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Pinus virginiana

Metadata

Record Modified: 2012-10-20
Research By: TWC Staff

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