Although this species forms hybrids with Pinus rigida, as well as with Pinus taeda, it is generally considered to be a distinct species. It is undoubtedly closely related to Pinus rigida, with which it shares the uncommon character of adventitious shoots[].

Common Name: Pond Pine

General Information

Pinus serotina is an evergreen tree with a crown that becomes ragged, thin, often broadly rounded or flat with age; it can grow up to 21 metres tall. The bole commonly has adventitious shoots; it can be straight, but is more often crooked and around 60cm in diameter[].
The tree is of increasing importance in the USA as a source of pulpwood[]. However, attempts at forestry plantations in China, South Africa and Zimbabwe have generally had poor results compared to other pine species[].
Pinus serotina is widespread and abundant across its range in suitable habitat. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

The wood, sawdust and resins from various species of pine can cause dermatitis in sensitive people[].

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Eastern N. America - New Jersey to central Florida, east to Alabama

Habitat

Flatwoods, flatwoods bogs, savannahs, and barrens; at elevations up to 200 metres[]. Low, wet flats, pond margins, peaty swamps and sandy woods[, ].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	20.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Pinus serotina is native to the coastal plains of eastern USA, where the climate is mild and humid with mean annual precipitation ranging from 1,120 - 1,420mm, with the driest months in winter[]. It requires hot summers if it is to thrive and is not a very cold-hardy plant, being able to tolerate short periods with temperatures down to around -10°c when fully dormant[, ].
Pine species in general require a sunny position if they are to grow well and, whilst the different species have their own soil preferences, most will thrive in a light well-drained sandy or gravelly loam[, ]. This species grows in the wild on sandy flats with a high water table, and also in nutrient-poor, acidic swamps[, ]. Dislikes poorly drained moorland soils[]. Established plants tolerate drought[].
Pinus serotina is fire successional and sprouts adventitiously after crown fires. The shoots appear more in the crown than on the trunk, probably because fires tend to be crown fires in the wetter forests where this species occurs[]. When protected from fire it is generally of good form[].
The tree is usually slow-growing in its native habitat, but it grows rather faster in cultivation on well-drained sandy soils[].
Not very hardy in Britain[]. This species is possibly no more than a form of P. rigida[]. Other reports say that it is closely related to P. rigida but distinct, and is less hardy than that species[, ].
A very rare tree in Britain, a specimen in Sussex was 9 metres tall in 1960[].
The broadly ovoid to nearly globose seed cones are 5 - 8cm long, taking two growing seasons to mature. They sometimes open and shed their seed whilst still attached to the tree, but more commonly retain the seeds inside the cone for a year or longer before opening[, , ]. The open cones are long-persistent on the tree[].
Plants are strongly outbreeding, self-fertilized seed usually grows poorly[]. They hybridize freely with other members of this genus[].
Leaf secretions inhibit the germination of seeds, thereby reducing the amount of plants that can grow under the trees[].
Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

A vanillin flavouring is obtained as a by-product of other resins that are released from the pulpwood[].

The seeds of all Pinus species are more or less edible, and some are of good size and make very tasty and nutritious foods, often eaten in quantitiy. Others can be less desireable, either having a strongly resinous flavour, being bitter or, more commonly, rather too small and fiddly to make it very worthwhle even trying to eat them,
We have no specific information of the desireability of this species, though they are rather small (the size given includes the shell)[].
The pale brown, mottled darker or nearly black, ellipsoid seeds are 5 - 6mm long[].

Medicinal

Oil of turpentine, obtained from the oleo-resin of all pine trees, is antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, diuretic, rubefacient, stimulant and vermifuge[, ]. It is a valuable remedy used internally in the treatment of kidney and bladder complaints and is used both internally and as a rub and steam bath in the treatment of rheumatic affections[]. It is also very beneficial to the respiratory system and so is useful in treating diseases of the mucous membranes and respiratory complaints such as coughs, colds, influenza and TB[].
Applied externally in the form of liniment plasters, poultices, herbal steam baths and inhalers, it is a very beneficial treatment for a variety of skin complaints, wounds, sores, burns, boils etc[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The needles contain a substance called terpene, this is released when rain washes over the needles and it has a negative effect on the germination of some plants, including wheat[].

Other Uses

A tan or green dye is obtained from the needles[].

This species is a commercial source of turpentine[, ]. The resins are obtained by tapping the trunk, or by destructive distillation of the wood[, ]. In general, trees from warmer areas of distribution give the higher yields[].
Oil of Turpentine consists of an average of 20% of the oleo-resin[] and is separated by distillation[, ]. Turpentine has a wide range of uses including as a solvent for waxes etc, for thinning and dissolving varnish and paints, a shoe polish, medicinal etc[, ].
Rosin is also obtained by distillation of pine resin. This is used in paper glue and soap manufacturing, as a constituent of varnishes and paints, and for coating the bows of stringed musical instruments such as violins[, ].
Pitch can also be obtained from the resin and is used for waterproofing, as a wood preservative etc[].

The wood is coarse-grained, soft, heavy, very resinous, brittle[, ]. It weighs 49lb per cubic foot[]. It is occasionally used as a general timber[, ]. The tree is often crooked or divided into long branches at two thirds of its height. Its wood is therefore not very suitable for timber and is mainly used as pulp wood[].

Propagation

It is best to sow the seed in individual pots in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe if this is possible otherwise in late winter. A short stratification of 6 weeks at 4°c can improve the germination of stored seed[]. Plant seedlings out into their permanent positions as soon as possible and protect them for their first winter or two[]. Plants have a very sparse root system and the sooner they are planted into their permanent positions the better they will grow[]. Trees should be planted into their permanent positions when they are quite small, between 30 and 90cm[]. We actually plant them out when they are about 5 - 10cm tall. So long as they are given a very good weed-excluding mulch they establish very well[]. Larger trees will check badly and hardly put on any growth for several years. This also badly affects root development and wind resistance[].
Cuttings. This method only works when taken from very young trees less than 10 years old. Use single leaf fascicles with the base of the short shoot. Disbudding the shoots some weeks before taking the cuttings can help. Cuttings are normally slow to grow away[].