Jack Pine grows in full sun in a variety of soils, including deep sand and other poor soils. It cannot tolerate shade, the lower branches that are covered with shade will die, but remain on the tree. It does best in areas with cool summers, it cannot tolerate heat. May develop needle cast, root rot, and rust. Its form is pyramidal in youth, but open spreading or flat-topped and shrubby with age. It has a tremendous cold tolerance. The needles turn an unattractive yellow-green in winter. Insect, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This tree is susceptible to wind damage. More information on Pinus .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
Available space
24-60 feet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 35 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in. | Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Open; Pyramidal; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Needled Evergreen
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Leaf type
Needles; Simple
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf feel
Prickly
Leaf size
1-3 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Twisted, stiff olive green needles in bundles of 2, yellow-green in winter
Fall color
Gold/Yellow
Flower color
Brown/Copper
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Inconspicuous yellow flower. Pointed yellowish-brown cones. Some cones remain closed.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Bark color
Dark Brown; Orange; Red/Burgundy
Bark detail
Develops irregular fissuring with age
Stem detail
Single Stem, rough, scaly
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Northern North America
Distribution
Canada and USA (Great Lakes and Northeastern regions)
Wildlife value
This plant supports Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed. Nesting site for the endangered Kirtland warbler. Songbirds, game birds and many mammals