Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana)

Commonly called “scrub pine” due to its branchy (“scrubby,”[1] see definition 1b) shape when young, invasiveness/”pioneer species” tendency, its required -not accepted but required- poor soil habitat, its hard short needles, its jagged, sharp cones, and its near worthlessness at maturity, make it aesthetically unpleasant, and commercially not very desired[2], and lead this pine be considered more a weed than a conifer to some. But I like them, and so do northern bobwhites, white-tailed deer*, and backyard birds. [3]

Historically, so did box-makers, and, as far back as the early 1700s, tar-makers [6.] These days, this pine is primarily used for pulpwood, that is, paper. Sometimes, it is used for rough lumber.

For wildlife, it all depends on the stage of growth. The young trees provide cover, while the old trees provide nesting for woodpeckers due to the softened wood common due to fungal decay. [4]

Virginia pine is a transitional tree, which means that it grows quicker than other trees after a woodland area is cut down; however, it is intolerant of its own shade, and thus seedlings can not establish under its canopy, and more shade-tolerant species’, such as hickory and oak, grow instead. [5]

Its range, as seen on the USDA map, is interesting in that it follows the Ohio river in its western border, especially in Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky, and less so in Tennessee, to where it is nearly diminished in Mississippi. However, an older distribution map shows a less-decided following of the river [7.]

It evidently lives up to its name, seeing as only a few counties in Virginia (and those few likely were simply too lazy to report it) have the tree growing.

The wood is shown here. From www.wood-database.com. Copyrighted, but I obtained permission.

Another interesting thing to note is how this pine can handle the saline soil of the Atlantic in New Jersey and the lower Chesapeake in Virginia; and it also can handle the deep-south temperatures of southern Alabama and southern Mississippi; yet, if one were to look at the distribution map in North Carolina, they would doubtless see a tree which does not grow in sandy soil. It cannot be blamed on the temperature, as was already noted. So what is it?

When mature, all of the branches of this tree except those at the crown die, yet persist on the tree, giving the tree an almost “dead” appearance, prevented only from being seen as such by the crown of green foliage at the top. Without a doubt, these trees are more ornamental when young.

Identification is fairly easy, in this county anyway. The needles come in fascicles (bundles) of two. They are twisted and, unlike P. strobus, they are stiff, that is, firm.

In the image below, the uneven shape of this species of pine is evident. I made it black and white to show the shape without the color saturating it.

The image here shows a popular opinion. By Joseph Illick, “Pennsylvania trees.”[8]