Slash Pine

( Pinus elliottii )

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Family - Pinaceae

Natural Habitat - Moist to dry Flatwoods, Scrubby flatwoods, Sandhill, margins of wetlands.

Planting Zones - 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

Description -  Slash pine is a fast growing large tree, reaching 75 - 100 feet tall with a 3 to 4 ft. diameter trunk. Pine cones are 3 - 6 inches in length to 3 inches in diameter, seeds are a favorite food of squirrels and wild turkey. Bark is grey-brown & deeply furrowed, with scaly orange plates.

Needles are 8 -12 inches long, 2 or occasionally 3 per fascicle. Crown is open, irregular, oval to pyramidal with ascending branches.

Landscape Use -  Slash pine is a good tree for creating dappled, light shade for under plantings of azaleas or other plants which love lightly shaded conditions. Excellent when planted in scattered groups of three or more.

Although it is often used as a screen, the Slash pine is not a great choice as it is self-pruning and loses its lower branches as the tree gets larger.

Culture - Propagated from seed, Slash pine grows best in full sun or partial shade on well to poorly drained, moist, sandy acidic soils and will tolerate moderate seasonal flooding. Will tolerate slightly alkaline soil pH, but develops chlorosis on strongly alkaline soil. Slash pine has a moderate tolerance to drought and salt air.