Landowner Fact Sheets

Virginia pine Pinus virginiana play

Virginia pine is a pioneer species capable of growing well on impoverished sites. It is native to the south-central states, where it is often seen growing on abandoned farmlands, roadsides, and other disturbed areas. Virginia pine needles are 1 1/2 to 3 inches long, and occur in bundles of 2.

range map Click to see more images. wood grain

Light
Virginia pine is shade intolerant. Clearcut, seed-tree, and large group selections favor regeneration. Virginia pine does not compete well when not in full sun.

Water
Virginia pine is found on a wide variety of soils, and is commonly found on poor, dry sites. It seeds in rapidly following fire, and aggressively colonizes old fields or clearings.

Growth

Size
A small to medium sized tree reaching up to 70 feet tall, eventually develops a flat top sparse crown; dead, gray (sharply angled upwards) branch stubs are almost always present along the trunk.

Timber Value
Virginia pine is used for lumber, pulpwood, and Christmas trees.

Wildlife Value
Mice tend to feed on stem tissue of young trees. Woodpeckers nest in older trees with internal decay. Deer browse the twigs and foliage.
Attracts northern bobwhites, other birds, mice, rabbits, deer

Insects and Diseases

Fun Facts
Virginia pine is an aggressive pioneer that produces pulpwood more rapidly than most pines on poor sites. It is also useful for mine land reclamation.

Latin Meaning
Pinus: Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus" / virginiana: of Virginia

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Landowner Factsheets © 2004 Virginia Tech Forestry Department, all rights reserved. Text, images, and programming by: Dr. Jeff Kirwan, Dr. John R. Seiler, John A. Peterson, Edward C. Jensen, Guy Phillips, or Andrew S. Meeks.