When you think of a pine tree, you most likely think of Christmas. Most folk’s minds quickly wander to a white forest of giant pine trees. If you want to know what pine trees in Florida are common, keep reading this article.
The Slash Pine
The slash pine is a typical Florida pine seen in practically all-natural state parks. If you’ve ever gone through the Green Swamp close to Highway 471, then you’ve probably laid your eyes on common slash pine trees in Florida.
This tree is known as an evergreen tree, meaning it keeps its foliage all year long. These pine trees grow very tall, rising over 100 feet. Since the slash pine is more accepting of wet soils, this is the reason you’re likely to discover this pine in swampy settings.
The Longleaf Pine
The pine needles grown on the longleaf pine can grow over 18 inches. Also, this tree is typically seen in woodsy Florida regions. These trees grow in dry soil.
Longleaf Pines grows up to 100-feet tall. Its lifespan can be over 300 years.
Many things play into this pine’s long life span. One of those reasons is the tree’s capability to endure pests and natural disasters. They can tolerate severe storms, bear wildfires, and drought and defend against pests better than other pines.
The Sand Pine
The Sand Pine has two variations: The Ocala sand pine and the Choctawhatchee sand pine. Both varieties of the sand pine are distinct since they are real Florida native pines that only grow in the state. Perhaps this makes the sand pine the most native Florida tree of all the pines found in the state.
The most significant difference between the Choctawhatchee and Ocala is their cone serotiny. This means that the serotinous pinecones could remain unopened on the tree for years and open only when there is a fire. These are the sort of pinecones see on an Ocala sand pine and not a Choctawhatchee. You can view these pines in a sandy setting usually on a shoreline or dry sandy ridge.
If you’re not sure what sort of tree you have in your landscape, call a Tampa Tree Arborist and schedule a tree assessment.
