Scientific Name
Pinus rigida
Pitch pine’s native range extends from southern Maine to Pennsylvania and south through the Appalachians to the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina. It is generally a pioneer species, often replaced over time by long-lived hardwoods, but it can persist in very inhospitable environments. It is a characteristic tree of the East Coast pine barrens, a habitat not typically associated with ornamental plantings. Even so, as with jack pine, two specimens have been planted in the arboretum to evaluate performance.
Pitch pine has needles in bundles of three, 3 to 5 inches long, with color ranging from light to dark green. It has an unusual ability among pines to produce shoots and needle tufts directly from the trunk. The species is very cold-hardy and tolerant of infertile soils.
Cones are 2 to 3 inches long and often occur in groups of three. The species prefers acidic soils, and both arboretum specimens have shown some chlorosis, or leaf yellowing. However, it can be difficult to distinguish natural yellow-green foliage from nutrient deficiency. The trees are being monitored as they establish.