This Florida native tree produces the largest pine cones of all conifers in the eastern United States area. They are 6 and up to 10 (and sometimes even more) inches long.

Photo above: Longleaf pine cones and blooming prickly pear

Description:

Small, open trunk on top of straight, 80 to 100 feet tall trunk. Trunk can be up to 3 feet wide. Highly fire adapted. Long and dense needles hold a lot of moisture and do not burn easily.

Longleaf pine tree is an evergreen with taproot. "A plant's taproot is a straight tapering root that grows vertically down. It forms a center from which other roots sprout. Plants with taproots are difficult to transplant."

"Taproot." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 12 Jun. 2007. <Reference.com http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Taproot>.
 

Propagation:

Longleaf pine propagates by seeds. Seedling goes through a grass stage first before developing a trunk and a taproot and becoming a sapling. Grass stage can last anywhere from three to ten years in unfavorable growing conditions. After the grass stage is over, longleaf pine grows rapidly.
 

Landscape uses:

• potted longleaf pine might not develop taproot like it does in the wild

• the best time for transplanting in your yard is when the young plant is still in grass stage and before the taproot begins to elongate

• longleaf pine is the largest of all yellow pines and looks outstanding in the parks, large gardens and yards