Loblolly pine is native to southeastern North America. It prefers hot, humid summers and mild
winters.
Identification: Trees are 60-90′ (18-27 m) tall, with a typically
straight trunk
1-5′ (40-150 cm) in diameter. The bark on mature trees has furrows.
The largest known tree is 182′ (55 m) tall. Needles occur in groups of three, and are 4½-9″ (12-22 cm)
long. The trees are monoecious (they bear both male and female flowers). Male flowers are groups of red to yellow
cylinders at branch tips, each ½-1½″ (1.3-3.8 cm) long. Female cones are green aging to pale brown, conical in shape, 2½-5″ (7-13 cm) ×
¾-1″ (2-3 cm), with sharp spines 1/16-3/16″ (3-6 mm) long.