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Native Plant Database

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Pinus pungens Lamb.

Table Mountain pine, Hickory pine, Prickly pine

Pinaceae (Pine Family)

USDA Symbol: PIPU5

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A 40-60 ft. pine, the bold branching pattern resembling a giant bonsai. Short, dark-green needles are in bundles of 2-3. Large cones remain on the limbs for several years. Tree with rounded or irregular crown of stout, horizontal branches and abundant spiny cones in clusters along branches.

Easily seen at Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains National Parks, this tree of mountain ridges is the only pine restricted to the Appalachian Mountains. Called Hickory Pine because of the very tough hickorylike branches.

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Linear
Leaf: Green
Fruit:
Size Class: 36-72 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Apr

Distribution

USA: DC , DE , GA , MD , NC , NJ , PA , SC , TN , VA , WV
Native Distribution: Mts. from PA, to n.e. GA; also local in NJ
Native Habitat: Dry, rocky mountain slopes & ridges
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Soil Description: Dry, rocky soil.
Conditions Comments: Extremely drought-tolerant. Slow-growing.

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

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Additional resources

USDA: Find Pinus pungens in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Pinus pungens in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Pinus pungens

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-06-03
Research By: TWC Staff

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