Longleaf Pine Tree

The Longleaf Pine Tree (Pinus palustris) is a slow-growing, evergreen conifer.  The Long Leaf Pine grows a compact cluster of pine needles that measures as long as 18". The huge pine cones of the Longleaf Pine require almost twenty months to fully mature which will deliver masses of pine nuts for the birds and animals to feast upon. The seemingly slow and early development of the tree occurs mostly underground as the Longleaf Pine progresses through the grassy-stage to produce a long taproot which can be as lengthy as the long leaf sapling's trunk's height is. After 5 to 10 years, the Longleaf Pine tree has a rapid and vertical growth acceleration, but only after this long period does it develop its massive, tree-like appearance. Longleaf Pine seeds are very large when compared to other pine nuts and are highly favored by birds and squirrels that gather underneath the trees to catch their food as it matures. The Long Leaf Pine Tree was the most common shade tree in ancient American for