Woody > Pinus > Pinus serotina > Pinus serotina
Pinus serotina
Pond pine, Marsh pine, Bay pine, Pocosin pine, Black bark pine
Origin: East coast of the United States, from New Jersey down to Florida, and inland toward Alabama.
Mike's
Opinion
"
A relatively unpopular Pine tree which is uniquely tolerant of wet soils and forest fires. It is valued for its usefulness in naturalized settings but shunned for its looks. It should be called the Pheonix Pine for its ability to bounce back and propagate after a fire. This tree deserves more attention.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Pinaceae |
| Genus |
| Pinus |
| Species |
| serotina |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Tree (evergreen) |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 7 - 9 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 7 - 10 |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H3 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| (-18) - (-4) |
| Temperature (°F) |
| 0 - 30 |
| Height |
| 10 - 12 m |
| Spread |
| 1 - 2 m |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| This is a ragged looking Pine tree. It is native to the east coast and thrives where other trees would burn or drown. |
| Landscape |
| Pinus serotina is an important part of the ecosystem and should be at the top of the list when considering trees for landscape restoration of wetlands. It is used as shelter by wildlife. Insects, birds, and mammals; predators and prey; endangered and thriving species have all taken shelter in, on, or under a Pond Pine. This tree is not valued for its looks and is not likely to be seen in a garden or botanical garden. |
| Cultivation |
| Best suited for natural environments. Prefers moist loamy or sandy soil and full sun. Can handle acidic soils of 4.5 pH or less. Pond Pine has a medium growth rate, which can decrease if constantly left in overly wet soil. It can tolerate forest fires, is deer resistant, but prone to wind damage if not protected. |
| Shape |
| Dense and conical in its younger days. Becomes tall and topped with irregular branches and foliage when mature. |
| Growth |
| Medium |
| ID Characteristic |
| Long, light green needles in fascicles of 3. Pairs of ovoid cones grow along branches. Red-brown scaly bark. |
| Pests |
| Susceptible to red heart rot, which affects 90 - 95% of mature Pond Pines. Also susceptible to Fusiform rust, eastern gall rust, Southern Pine Beetles, Black Turpentine Beetles, and Engraver Beetles. |
| Habitat |
| The Pond Pine is considered an overstory tree, and it thrives in coastal and swampy regions. It is at home in saturated and acidic soils around ponds and pocosins in the east coast of The United States. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| Medium thickness bark with a red/brown colouration of protruding and irregularly shaped scales on mature trees, and a smooth texture on young ones. New stems are slightly orange coloured and become darker as they mature. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description |
| This tree has many epicormic buds in case of fire defoliation. The external buds are 5 mm long, reddish brown coloured, cylindrically shaped, pointed, and are covered in resin. |
| Leaf Description |
| The needles are 10 – 20 cm long and up to 2 mm wide. They are light green and grow in fascicles of 3. They are located primarily in groups on the ends of branches and are quite flexible. |
| Flower Description |
| Monoecious flower system. Pollen cones (male) are dark orange 2 cm long clustered catkins which bloom in April. Seed cones (female) are 7 cm long, ovoid shaped, located in pairs along branches. |
| Fruit Description |
| 7 cm long, brown, conic ovoid shaped, with pointed scales which remain closed for 3 to 5 years; hence the name serotina, which is Latin for late maturing fruit. They can alternatively be opened by the intense heat of forest fires. The seeds are winged and are 5 mm long. |
| Colour Description |
| Most notable colours are the light green foliage, contrasted by red/brown bark. This will be unchanged by winter. Any colouration provided by buds is minor and will not be noticed from afar. |
| Texture Description |
| A coarsely textured tree which remains consistent throughout the seasons. |
| Notable Specimens |
| Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in Columbia, North Carolina, United States of America. Look out for National Parks like this one on the east coast. The largest recorded tree has a diameter of 104cm, height 27m, crown spread 16m, and is located in Thomas County, Georgia, USA. |
| Propagation |
| Propagated by seeds, cuttings, layering, and grafting. Seeds should be collected during summer. Boil the cones for 20 seconds or until they open. Stratify seeds for 30 days at 0.5 - 5C in a damp medium. Once planted, they will germinate in 2 - 7 weeks at 22C. Stem-tip, semi-hardwood cuttings from young trees should be collected in late autumn. Rooting will happen in 16-22 weeks at 23-26C with intermittent misting. Can be air layered in the summertime by removing bark around the circumference of a branch of the trunk. Able to be side grafted in winter. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses (Disclaimer) |
| Pinus serotina has low commercial value because most mature trees are affected by red heart rot, so it is mostly used as pulpwood and sometimes timber. This tree is much more valuable for the ecosystem. Gum Turpentine can be made from the resin. Pinus serotina has no medicinal value. |
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