Carolina Nature

Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of North Carolina

Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana)

Plantae>Coniferophyta>Pinopsida>Pinales>Pinaceae>Pinus virginiana P. Miller

Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana)

Virginia Pine is a common medium-sized tree found on poorer, drier sites than the other native pines.

Carroll Co., VA 4/11/10.

Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana)

Carroll Co., VA 4/25/08.

Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana)

Carroll Co., VA 3/18/06.

Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana) cones

The female cones are the smallest of all the pines in North Carolina.

Person Co., NC 4/1/06.

Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana) cones

Male pollen cones just about to open.

Orange Co., NC 4/4/09.

Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana)

Carroll Co., VA 4/11/10.

Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana)

Wake Co., NC 6/8/2012.

Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana)

Wake Co., NC 6/8/2012.

Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana)

In North Carolina, Virginia Pine is common to abundant in the Mountains and upper half of the Piedmont, uncommon to rare south and east of Durham County.

Person Co., NC 6/13/06.

Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana)

Easily told from other native pines except for Table Mountain Pine (P. pungens) by its short leaves with 2 yellow-green, twisted needles. The small cones help separate Virginia Pine from Table Mountain Pine, which has stout ovoid cones.

Person Co., NC 6/13/06.

Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana) bark

The reddish-brown bark is broken into small plates on mature trees. The bark on young trees is more reddish and flaky. Old dead branches usually remain embedded in the trunk. Those of most other pines in North Carolina fall off and disappear in time.

Bark of a medium-sized tree.

Orange Co., NC 4/12/08.

Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana) bark

Bark of a larger tree.

Orange Co., NC 4/12/08.

Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana) bark

Bark of a large tree.

Orange Co., NC 3/11/07.

Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana) tree

Trees tend to be small for a pine and scraggly, not growing straight.

Carroll Co., VA 3/18/06.

Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana) tree

Wake Co., NC 5/30/2011.

More information:
Gymnosperm Database
Trees of Alabama and the Southeast
US Forest Service Silvics Manual
Virginia Tech Dendrology

Recommended Tree, Shrub, and Woody Vine Identification Guides