
Virginia Pine- Picea virginiana Pine Family (Pinaceae)
This plant works well as a specimen plant in woodland landscapes as it has an interesting, scraggly form and numerous persistent cones. It is also suitable for native, nighttime, and winter gardens. The seeds are a food source for many birds.1
Virginia pine is not considered particularly attractive by many people, but it can be a popular Christmas tree species in the South.2
Needles are in bundles of two, are 1 1/2″ to 3″ long and yellow-green to dark green. Needles remain on the tree for three to four year and are twisted. Cones persist on the tree for eight or more years giving it an unkempt appearance or character, depending on your perspective.2
References:
- Pinus virginiana. North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/pinusvirginiana/. No Publication Date. Accessed January 23, 2024.
- Virginia Pine. University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. https://www.uky.edu/hort/Virginia-Pine. No Publication Date. Accessed January 23, 2024.
- https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolboxprod/media/images/Pinus_virginiana–KristinePaulus–CC-BY-NC-SA.jpg
- https://www.pfw.edu/microsites/nativetrees/images/trees/t-z/full/virginia-pine-leaves-summer-01.jpg
- https://www.uky.edu/hort/sites/www.uky.edu.hort/files/pages-attachments/pvirginiana.jpg