The Loblolly Pine tree, Pinus taeda, is a
fast-growing member of the yellow pine group. It is
also called yellow pine, North Carolina pine, and
oldfield pine and is the most commercially important
forest species in the southern United States.
Loblolly Pine trees can grow up to 100 feet tall and
up to three feet in diameter; however, along the
coast they seldom rise more than 50 feet.
This evergreen conifer has pine needles that are
6 to 9 inches long. The Loblolly Pine is a stately
tree and is often chosen to use for convenient
landscape screening. In urban areas, stands of
loblolly pines are used as wind and noise barriers.
It is particularly prized for its straight trunk,
which contains no knots for up to 30 feet. It
thrives in a variety of soils, including
well-drained upland areas with poor nutrient
concentrations to poorly drained lowland areas and
abandoned fields.
