Loblolly Pine
Pinus taeda
The Loblolly Pine is widely known as the most common Pine tree in the South-Eastern United States. However, it is the cold hardiest species of the several Southern "Yellow Pines" . It is hardy in USDA Zones 6-9. It has been known to survive into USDA Zone 5b with winter damage or severe foliar burn occurring when temps dip below -5°F. Recovery of specimens from near complete foliar burn is known from established specimens down to -10°F or slightly colder. Examples of which I have seen in Southern/South Central Indiana. The tree is so fascinating to Conifer enthusiasts and people wanting other "exotic" evergreen options outside of the Loblolly's native range. If planted in sheltered locations from direct drying winds (eg. Southernly exposure) it has the best chance in USDA Zones 5b/6a. The "unaturally" long and bright glossy needles and large cones adds interest to the landscape. Whether that be an ornamental, wind break, erosion control.. this tree is a great option! However if you are not willing to take the risk from winter cold snaps being an issue, many growers have hybridized the Loblolly with the Pitch Pine (Native further North into the Mid-Atlantic and New England and Southern Canada.) The name this hybrid tree gets is the "Pitlolly Pine". There are some official multiple state DNR sources that at least in recent years have actively sold starters of the Pitlolly Pine online publicly. Gives you the look of the long needles of the Southern Pine, but you get the enhanced drought tolerance and cold hardiness of the Pitch Pine (Pinus rigida), but retain the extreme heat, moisture, and vigorous growth of the Loblolly Pine.
If you are in a zone 5b-6a and want to give Loblolly a go, start with cheap saplings and baby them in the ground shelterd with tons of Summer and fall hand watering, and heavy year-round mulching until they sustain good size (more than 2" caliper). Or try the Pitlolly Pine for guaranteed hardiness WAYY further North than a Loblolly could ever grow into USDA Zone 4 (-35°F). It should be kept in mind the Pitlolly will not grow in the deep South like the pure Loblolly does, as the Pitlolly is only hardy to zone 7 or 8a given the more Northern genetics of the Pitch Pine. You can try Loblolly as an experimental tree in Chicago, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Columbus, for examples especially with a warming climate. In the coming decades zone 5 may squeeze into zone 6 and zone 6 may inch into zone 7 putting all the cities mentioned above into the Loblolly growing range! However, given a more volatile climate means wild cold snaps from an aggressive Polar Vortex may mean historic cold in the years to come as well, keeping any hopes of Loblolly Pines further North on hold for a while. If this is the case (or a fear at the very least) the Pitlolly Pine will definitely thrive even in climates not warm enough today.
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The Loblolly Pine's native range has been expanded due to planting (not a warmer climate as some may tell you). This is usually always the case when a tree species naturalizes outside of its historical native range. I have observed this with the Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) naturalzing hundreds of miles North of its native range. Countless of millions of specimens landscaped hundreds of miles North of its native range for many decades. The exact same can be said of the Loblolly Pine. (Nearly identical hardiness as Southern Magnolia). On a drive back from Alabama in the Summer of 2023 (current year as of this post) I diligently observed the species on the hike back North to my home in North Central Indiana (USDA Zone 5b) and I noticed them naturalizing from planted specimens as far North as the Indiana/Kentucky Border in/near Louisville, KY (USDA Zones 6a/6b). Specimens from this area planted and naturalized are pictured below.
Large Loblolly Pines near Louisville, KY (USDA Zone 6b/6a)
Loblolly Pine saplings naturalized on edge of Sugar Maple grove (Acer saccharum) source are from large planted Loblolly Pine specimens nearby located near Louisville, KY (USDA Zone 6b/6a)
Winter Burn on a native forest of Loblolly Pines in East Texas after the Polar Vortex outbreak in 2021. While it looks like these trees are dead, fortunately they are not. While the existing needles suffered winter burn, these well established trees have the ability to flush new growth in Spring.
Picture below
Summary
The Loblolly Pine is a tree desired by many who have not/or can not yet have it, and despised by many who can not get rid of them given their extreme aggressiveness in the South. It is likely in the many decades to come this tree will be able to grow further North than it can today, and at the very least the Pitlolly Pine can grow way North than the Loblolly is capable of growing in. The Loblolly Pine is fully hardy to roughly -5°F. Healthy established specimens can recover from damage down to -10°F or slightly colder. The Pitlolly Pine is hardy to at least -30°F if not slightly colder. In the Loblolly Pines native range it is one of the most common and weedy trees in the South-East. The species quickly invades road-sides, open fields, low wet areas, wood edges… To some in the South it's seen as a pest, to others a money maker for the timber industry, to others a symbol that defines the South. Whichever boat you happen to fall in, one thing no-one can deny is its significance to the South-East through the improtance of carbon obsorbtion, environmental health, and overall dominance.
🌲NatureMan 2023🌲
*SOURCES*
•NatureMan's own knowledge 😁
•https://woodcountymonitor.com/stories/nature-has-not-been-too-kind-to-east-texas-trees,158895
•https://agrilifetoday.tamu.edu/2021/03/04/east-texas-now-noticing-freeze-damage-on-forest-trees/amp/
•https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/plants-trees/needle-like-leaves/loblolly-pine-pinus-taeda
•https://mdc12.mdc.mo.gov/Applications/TreeSeedling/Home/ProductDetails/58
•https://www.houzz.com/discussions/1879150/pitlolly-pine-pitch-x-loblolly-hybrid
