Species › Plants › Slash Pine

Slash Pine

Pinus elliottii

CommonPlant
Illustration of Slash Pine (Pinus elliottii)

Slash Pine is a fast-growing, commercially important pine native to the flatwoods and swampy areas of the southeastern coastal plain. It is named for the slash — poorly drained, shrubby wetland areas — where it commonly grows. The species was heavily tapped for turpentine and resin production in the 19th and early 20th centuries, supporting a vast naval stores industry. Today it is widely planted in timber plantations and is important for the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker.

Habitat
Flatwoods, wet pinelands, pond margins, and swampy areas of the southeast coastal plain from South Carolina to Louisiana.
Diet
Seeds consumed by red-cockaded woodpeckers, pine warblers, and various small mammals.
How common
Common

Best time to see a Slash Pine

The best time to see a Slash Pine is January–June, when about 61% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 7,409 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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