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Landscaping with Pitch Pines

by Bailey Sons – January 04, 2023

The pitch pine tree is a species of evergreen conifer endemic to eastern North America. These native American trees are exceptional because they can flourish in some of the planet's most desert and depleted soils.

So, whatever the conditions are at your home, these little beauties will tough it out. Yet, they particularly love the climate in South Carolina.

They grow slowly and are medium in size. They have a lifetime of around 200 years. Generational plants are always great for landscaping and perfect as part of a home you plan to keep in the family.

The pitch pine regenerates growth after injury (such as cutting or burning) and regrows twisting branches that bend in different directions. Because of this propensity, the pitch pine may develop a distinctive, relatively "open" form, making it a sought-after species among bonsai lovers.

It also means you can shape the plant over time by cutting and rerouting smaller branches. You can also keep the cuttings as kindling. Once they dry out, they burn amazingly.

The tree features rich, dark green needles, and new growth is vivid, yellowish-green. If you group a few of these trees, you get a thick, luxurious brush that feels like you're miles into the woods.

The Beauty of Pitch Pine Tree Landscapes

Pine trees with cones are easily recognized by their pine needle leaves and evergreen beauty. These aspects are prevalent in residential landscapes.

Additionally, that feeling of comfort you get from the wind rushing through pine trees is unrivaled by almost any other natural phenomenon.

As we mentioned earlier, the plethora of natural shapes these plants create either on their own (or with some help from some pruning while they grow) makes them unique landscape trees.

Pitch pine trees have a wavy shape. They grow well in dry, rocky soil that other trees cannot survive, becoming open and uneven in exposed locations. They have a wide range of shapes due to their knotty, bent stems, and twisted, gnarled branches. Their horizontal components form a large uneven crown.

Furthermore, the cones range from 3 to 9cm in length. They open and drop their seed while still connected to the tree and remain on it for ten years or more.

Research suggests that pitch pine trees are perfect for reforestation efforts. They increase, and as they can reproduce after a fire, they provide excellent vital qualities for an entire forest after a wildfire.

Other Uses of Pitch Pine Tree

The wood is highly resinous, so its small pieces of wood are utilized as torches
It is used to make pulpwood and to reforest arid sandy areas
Its resinous wood is used for construction purposes
These cold-hardy trees are used to provide crucial food and shelter for animals in the winter
It has been primarily used in the construction of radio towers, the building of ships, railroad ties, and the production of tar and turpentine
Turpentine has seen use as a medicine in some cultures
Decorative carvings

They are ideal for adding to almost any landscaping plan that allows for their size. They aren't picky regarding growing conditions and provide homes for cute wildlife while creating their own quickly-grown, unique look for a property.

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Pitch Pine Tree

The Pitch pine tree is a rugged, evergreen tree native to eastern North America, characterized by its long, dark green needles, rough bark, and the production of resin-rich "pitch" that has various commercial uses. The Pitch Pine Tree is also known as Pinus rigida. The latter term means that it is stiff (rigid) and that it has pine needles, which are leaves that are thin, long, and sharp. In fact, those needles are stiff as well. They can live for 200 years and have been used to make things like paper, lumber, pulp, and turpentine, while their high levels of resin, which preserve them from decay, have resulted in them being used in the building of ships in the past years. Locations Of The Pitch Pine Tree They are predominantly located in an area that covers much of the Northeast United States, and that stretches down to around the Tennessee-North Carolina border - i.e., an area focused on the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Small parts of Georgia and South Carolina are included as well. North of the border, this type of greenery is found in limited numbers in Ontario and Quebec. Size Of The Pitch Pine Tree This type is on the smaller side, usually growing to around 20-100 feet in height, extending by about a foot per year for the first 60 or so years of its life, assuming that the conditions are optimal. The needles that they possess are usually about 2-5 inches long, while its cones tend to be 2 inches in length. Shape Of The Pitch Pine Tree One of the ways that they stand out is through their irregular shape. For example, they tend to possess twisted branches and do not effectively engage in self-pruning, which is the shedding of damaged or shaded branches. However, this type's trunk is usually mostly straight with a gentle curve. Regeneration Of The Pitch Pine Tree They are able to regenerate at a high level, utilizing their basal roots, which dig far into the soil, to do so if necessary. Not only does this help them survive fire damage, but they also have thick barks that help protect their trunks against that type of threat. In addition, their cones are sealed with resin, and that seal requires heat, such as from a fire, to open. So, in the worst-case scenario, those cones would open, and their seeds would be spread, resulting in a new generation being grown in the area.

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