Pinus rigida Mill.

Pitch pine

About plant names...

Pitch pine is native to eastern North America.

Identification: These trees are often relatively small and oddly shaped, about 40-60' (12-18 m), but they can reach 100' (30 m). Bark is dark and scaly when the plant is young, becoming scaly, peelable plates that are light brown or red brown in mature trees. Needles are 2½-5" (6.3-12 cm) long, in groups of 3, yellow-green or green, twisted. Tufts of needles may occur on the trunk, but I have never seen anything like the heavily needled branches of the tree in four of the photos at right.

For further information, see the Pinus comparison tables.

From Britton, Nathaniel Lord, and Brown, Addison, An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions, 1913. Scanned for the USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database.

Online References:

Www.carolinanature.com

The USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database

Wikipedia

The University of Connecticut Plant Database

References:

Sibley, David Allen, The Sibley Guide to Trees, Alfred A. Knopf, 2009, p. 24

5/29/2014 · Bemis Rd., Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 10 × 15" (25 × 37 cm)

I have never seen a tree like this one. · 9/24/2009 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 3½ × 2½' (1.2 × 0.8 m) ID is uncertain

8/24/2023 · Morse Mountain, Phippsburg, Maine
≈ 7 × 4½" (18 × 12 cm)

4/15/2021 · Brunswick Town Commons, Brunswick, Maine
≈ 8 × 5" (20 × 13 cm)

7/27/2016 · Michaux State Forest, Caledonia State Park, Fayetteville, Penn­syl­vania
≈ 6 × 10" (16 × 24 cm)

3 needles · 10/25/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Nashua, New Hamp­shire

9/19/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine
≈ 12 × 8" (31 × 20 cm) ID is uncertain

3/9/2012 · Groton Place and Sabine Woods, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 4½ × 3" (11 × 7.9 cm)

6/20/2010 · Blue Hill Reservation, Milford, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 6 × 4" (15 × 10 cm)

5/26/2016 · Pearl Hill State Park, Ashby, Mass­a­chu­setts

Baby cones. · 9/16/2016 · Cadillac Mountain South Ridge Tr, Bar Harbor, Maine

7/29/2023 · Stansbury Mill Rd, Phoenix, Mary­land

4/15/2021 · Brunswick Town Commons, Brunswick, Maine
≈ 6 × 4" (15 × 10 cm)

9/19/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine
≈ 31 × 21" (78 × 52 cm) ID is uncertain

9/18/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine
≈ 5½ × 4' (1.8 × 1.2 m) ID is uncertain

2/18/2012 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 6 × 4" (15 × 10 cm)

3/9/2012 · Groton Place and Sabine Woods, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 6 × 9" (14 × 22 cm)

Baby cones. · 9/16/2016 · Cadillac Mountain South Ridge Tr, Bar Harbor, Maine

7/27/2016 · Michaux State Forest, Caledonia State Park, Fayetteville, Penn­syl­vania
≈ 15 × 10" (39 × 26 cm)

5/29/2014 · Bemis Rd., Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 6 × 9" (16 × 21 cm)

6/20/2010 · Blue Hill Reservation, Milford, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 7 × 4½" (17 × 11 cm)

I have never seen a tree like this one. · 9/24/2009 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 3½ × 2½' (1.2 × 0.8 m) ID is uncertain

9/19/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine
≈ 16 × 24" (41 × 62 cm) ID is uncertain

Pinus rigida description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 5 Sep 2023.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.

8/24/2023 · Morse Mountain, Phippsburg, Maine
≈ 7 × 4½" (18 × 12 cm)

9/8/2020 · Brunswick Town Commons, Brunswick, Maine
≈ 7 × 4½" (18 × 12 cm)

9/8/2020 · Brunswick Town Commons, Brunswick, Maine
≈ 6 × 4" (14 × 10 cm)

4/30/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 8 × 5" (19 × 13 cm)

9/16/2016 · Cadillac Mountain South Ridge Trail, Bar Harbor, Maine
≈ 31 × 21" (78 × 52 cm)

I have never seen a tree like this one. · 9/24/2009 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 31 × 46" (78 × 117 cm) ID is uncertain

9/8/2020 · Brunswick Town Commons, Brunswick, Maine
≈ 5 × 8" (13 × 20 cm)

9/18/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine
≈ 9½ × 6½' (2.9 × 2.0 m) ID is uncertain

4/30/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 9 × 6" (22 × 14 cm)

4/24/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 11 × 7" (27 × 18 cm)

Baby cones. · 9/16/2016 · Cadillac Mountain South Ridge Tr, Bar Harbor, Maine

8/6/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 7 × 5" (16 × 13 cm) ID is uncertain

7/2/2010 · Stansbury Mill Rd, Phoenix, Mary­land
≈ 11 × 9" (29 × 23 cm)

I have never seen a tree like this one. · 9/24/2009 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 31 × 46" (78 × 117 cm) ID is uncertain

7/27/2016 · Michaux State Forest, Caledonia State Park, Fayetteville, Penn­syl­vania
≈ 8 × 12" (20 × 31 cm)

9/16/2016 · Cadillac Mountain South Ridge Trail, Bar Harbor, Maine

7/27/2016 · Michaux State Forest, Caledonia State Park, Fayetteville, Penn­syl­vania
≈ 10 × 6" (24 × 16 cm)

9/19/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine
≈ 9 × 6" (22 × 14 cm) ID is uncertain

7/27/2016 · Michaux State Forest, Caledonia State Park, Fayetteville, Penn­syl­vania
≈ 21 × 14" (52 × 34 cm)

11/5/2009 · Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 6 × 4" (15 × 10 cm)

9/8/2020 · Brunswick Town Commons, Brunswick, Maine
≈ 5 × 3½" (13 × 9.2 cm)

2/18/2012 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 31 × 46" (78 × 117 cm)

4/24/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 6 × 4" (15 × 10 cm)

9/19/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine
≈ 12 × 8" (31 × 20 cm) ID is uncertain

8/24/2023 · Morse Mountain, Phippsburg, Maine
≈ 7 × 4½" (18 × 12 cm)

5/26/2016 · Pearl Hill State Park, Ashby, Mass­a­chu­setts

Range: Zones 4-7:

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