Shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata) is one of the four most important commercial conifers in the southeastern United States. Depending upon locale, the species is also called shortleaf yellow, southern yellow, oldfield, shortstraw, or Arkansas soft pine.

1. Introduction to Shortleaf Pine

The shortleaf pine tree (Pinus echinata) is one of four southern yellow pines native to southeastern United States. Shortleaf pine is also called shortleaf yellow, southern yellow, oldfield, shortstraw, or Arkansas soft pine. Shortleaf pine frequently hybridizes naturally with Loblolly Pine and Pitch Pine where their ranges intersect. Artificial hybrids have been produced with shortleaf pine and are of special interest because they offer the opportunity to combine specific qualities of individual species.More »

2. The Silviculture of Shortleaf Pine

Shortleaf pine tolerates a wide range of soil and site conditions and maintains its growth rate for a relatively long period. However, the species tends to grow slower during the early years after establishment than other southern pines. Shortleaf pine is the most common species regenerated in the northern and western parts of its range.More »

3. The Images of Shortleaf Pine

Forestryimages.org provides several images of parts of shortleaf pine. The tree is a conifer and the lineal taxonomy is Pinopsida > Pinales > Pinaceae > Pinus echinata. Shortleaf pine pine is also commonly called Arkansas pine and southern yellow pine.More »

4. The Range of Shortleaf Pine

Shortleaf pine has the widest range of any pine in the southeastern United States. It grows in 22 States, from southeastern New York and New Jersey west to Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, Kentucky, southwestern Illinois, and southern Missouri; south to eastern Oklahoma and eastern Texas; and east to northern Florida and northeast through the Atlantic Coast States to Delaware.