Virginia Tech Dendrology

sand pine Pinaceae Pinus clausa (Chapm. ex Engelm.) Vasey ex Sarg. 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

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 2021 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