The longleaf pine is a native tree with 6-12 inch needles. It starts out in a grassy stage staying short for several years. The taproots are actively growing even though the top looks small. Eventually the tree will bolt and can grow 60-100 feet. This tree can live 300 years and has excellent needles for mulch. This pine is also resistant to fusiform rust.
In the past 100 years (in the South) longleaf pine forests have declined from 60 million acres to less than 4 million acres according to USDA. Contact the Farm Service agency if you are interested in a Conservation Reserve Program initiative to increase longleaf pines in the southern states.
