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Pinus pungens
Pinus pungens Lamb.
Table Mountain Pine, Hickory Pine, Prickly Pine
Pinaceae (Pine Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: PIPU5
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
A 20-40 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.
From the Image Gallery
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Tree
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Leaf Arrangement: Fascicled
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Linear
Breeding System: Flowers Unisexual , Monoecious
Fruit Type: Cone
Size Notes: Up to about 40 feet tall.
Leaf: Green
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: YellowBloom Time: Apr
Distribution
USA: DC , DE , GA , MD , NC , NJ , PA , SC , TN , VA , WVNative Distribution: Mts. from PA, to n.e. GA; also local in NJ
Native Habitat: Dry, rocky mountain slopes & ridges
Growing Conditions
Water Use: LowLight Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Soil Description: Dry, rocky soil.
Conditions Comments: Extremely drought-tolerant. Slow-growing.
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Mt. Cuba Center - Hockessin, DE
Web Reference
Webref 3 - Flora of North America (2014) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.Additional resources
USDA: Find Pinus pungens in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Pinus pungens in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Pinus pungens
Metadata
Record Modified: 2022-09-23Research By: TWC Staff