Pitch Pine

LEAVES: Evergreen needles in clusters of 3, stiff, 2½”-5″ long, yellowish green.

TWIGS: Stout, brittle, rough, angled in cross-section, golden-brown. Buds egg-shaped, about ½” long, resinous, red-brown.

FRUIT: Cones 1½”-3½” long with short, stiff prickles, nearly stalkless, often remains attached for 5 years or more after ripening. Many remain unopened until being heated by passing forest fire.

BARK: Green and smooth on young branches, thick, rough, grayish brown on older trunks.

GENERAL: Pitch pine is a medium sized tree, 40′-50′ high. Widespread in Pennsylvania except the Northwestern counties it is more common on poor, sandy soils and areas where forest fires have killed most other trees. Its wood has a high resin content, and is used for railroad ties, construction lumber, pulpwood and fuel. Pitch pine seeds are important to nuthatches, Pine grosbeak and Black-capped chickadee. Deer and rabbits browse the seedlings.