Search Fact Sheets Virginia Tech Dendrology

sand pine Pinaceae Pinus clausa (Chapm. ex Engelm.) Vasey ex Sarg. Listen to the Latin Print a QR link to this factsheet symbol: PICL
Leaf: Evergreen needles in fascicles of 2, 2 to 3 inches long, yellow-green, slightly twisted.
Flower: Species is monoecious; males cylindrical, yellow, near branch tip; females yellow to purple.
Fruit: Cones, 2 to 3 1/2 inches long, armed with a short, stout prickle, reddish brown to gray-brown, often clustered, persistent and remaining closed.
Twig: Slender, reddish to gray-brown.
Bark: Thin, reddish brown to gray-brown, relatively smooth but eventually developing scaly patches.
Form: Small (20 to 40 feet), scrubby tree with generally poor form and a bushy crown, branches tend to angle up.
 Looks like: Virginia pine - shortleaf pine - spruce pine

sand pine leaf image
sand pine flower image
sand pine fruit image
sand pine twig image
sand pine bark image
sand pine form image
sand pine map image

Additional Range Information: Pinus clausa is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
More Information: Wood
External Links: USDAFS Silvics of North America - USDAFS FEIS Silvics - USDA Plants Database - Horticulture Information - USDAFS Forest Products Lab
All material 2025 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information