Virginia pine is a needled evergreen tree in the pine family (Pinaceae) and is native to much of the eastern half of the United States. It tends to grow in pure stands rather than in mixed groups and is commonly found in old fields at high elevations in the piedmont and mountain regions. It grows as a broad, open pyramid when young, becoming flat-topped and horizontal with age with no prominent central leader. It has a slow growth rate and is small compared to other pines, growing 40 to 80 ft. tall and 10 to 30 feet wide with a trunk diameter of 8 to 14 inches. It grows best in sites with full sun, well-drained soil, and sandy acidic loam, although it grows well even in eroded and poor, dry soils, including clay soils. It is deer resistant and is moderately pollution tolerant for a pine. This tree is not particularly ornamental, but foliage can be used in Christmas decorations and the tree itself can be used as a Christmas tree, although it requires selective pruning for shape. Unlike other pines, Virginia pine is not often used for lumber due to its knotty wood and tendency to warp with moisture. However, its long fibers make it great for use as a source of wood pulp. This plant works well as a specimen plant in woodland landscapes as it has an interesting, scraggly form and numerous persistent cones. It is also suitable for native, nighttime, and winter gardens. The seeds are a food source for many birds. It is also a host plant for the larvae of the Imperial moth ( Eacles imperialis ) . Quick ID Hints: Pine tree with no central leader Needles in twos, twisted, short Young twigs glaucous Cones small, long persisting on branches Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This tree is susceptible to wind damage. Some susceptibility to pitch canker. This plant has numerous pest and disease problems. VIDEO Created by Homegrown featuring Jeff Owen , Area Extension Forestry Specialist for NC State Extension 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 pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12-24 feet; 24-60 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 80 ft. 0 in. | Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Open; Pyramidal
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Needled Evergreen
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Leaf type
Needles
Leaf arrangement
Other/more complex
Leaf shape
Acicular
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves are needles clustered on dwarf shoots (fascicles) in twos. They are short in length (1.5-3" long), are twisting, stout, minutely toothed, have an apex that is sharp-pointed, and are yellowish-green to dark green in color.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower detail
Cylindrical and yellow male pollen cones bloom from March to May.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Gold/Yellow; Red/Burgundy
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
1-3 inches long
Fruit detail
1.5 to 3 in. reddish-brown, short-stalked to subsessile, persistent, oblong-conical, blunt, spiny-scaled cones in clusters of 2 to 4. They ripen after two years and old cones persist on the tree. Yellow to red curved prickle female seed cone. Umbo is a sharp prickle. Fruit displays from September to November.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Dark Gray; Orange; Red/Burgundy
Bark detail
Orange-brown scaly bark on young trees and thin small scaly plates with maturity.
Stem detail
Twigs bear appressed scale leaves with axillary fascicles of needles. Young twigs are pale glaucous.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
USA, higher elevations on the eastern portion of the country
Distribution
Penn south west to Missouri south to Mississippi east to Georgia
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. Seeds are eaten by birds. This tree is resistant to damage by deer.
Attracts
Moths; Small Mammals; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Woodland
Landscape theme
Native Garden; Nighttime Garden; Rock Garden; Winter Garden
Pine Engraver Beetles; Pests of Conifers; Southern Pine Sawyer; Powdery Pine Needle Aphid; Pine Colaspis; Pine Needle Gall Midge; Pine Bark Beetles; Pine Tortoise Scale; Pine Tortoise Scale; Deodar Weevil / Eastern Pine Weevil; Southern Pine Beetle