Shortleaf Pine
Pinus echinata
Found in forests and woodlands; glades, barrens and outcrops on mafic or serpentine rock; sandhills; roadsides, fields and disturbed ground. FloraQuest, phone app (app page) What its natural habitat tells you
74
Strong
Native to Florida. How scores work Is it native here?
Profile 100%
- Height
- 80–100 feet
- Spread
- 20–40 feet
- Light
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil moisture
- Somewhat dry to moist
Space about 30 ft apart from its recorded spread. Enter your bed size for a count
Will it fit your yard?
At a glance
- Life cycle
- Woody perennial
- Leaves
- Evergreen
- Bloom
- Spring
- Fruiting season
- September to October
Recorded in 20 Florida counties.
Natural habitats
Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.
1 of 4
Glades, barrens and outcrops on mafic or serpentine rock
Open, thin-soil openings, outcrops and cliffs on dark, magnesium- or iron-rich rock such as serpentine, diabase or gabbro.
Dry, deep-sand ridges with longleaf pine and turkey oak, kept open by fire.
Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground
Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.
Also found with this plant
Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Florida. Shared habitat, not food. 108 animals.
- American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos
- American GoldfinchCarduelis tristis
- American KestrelFalco sparverius
- American RobinTurdus migratorius
- American WoodcockScolopax minor
- Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalus
- Barred OwlStrix varia
- Belted KingfisherMegaceryle alcyon
- Black VultureCoragyps atratus
- Blue GrosbeakPasserina caerulea
- Blue JayCyanocitta cristata
- Brown CreeperCerthia americana
- Brown ThrasherToxostoma rufum
- Carolina ChickadeePoecile carolinensis
- Carolina WrenThryothorus ludovicianus
- Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorum
- Chimney SwiftChaetura pelagica
- Chipping SparrowSpizella passerina
- Chuck-will's-widowCaprimulgus carolinensis
- Common GrackleQuiscalus quiscula
- Common NighthawkChordeiles minor
- Cooper's HawkAccipiter cooperii
- Double-crested CormorantPhalacrocorax auritus
- Downy WoodpeckerPicoides pubescens
Ecological relationships
Who uses this plant?
117CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including FL
Genus host records with ranges including FL · Pinus
- Eacles imperialisImperial Moth
- Acronicta lanceolariaNarrow-Winged Dagger, Lanceolate Dagger
- Acronicta oblinitaSmeared Dagger
- Amorbia humerosanaWhite-Lined Leafroller Moth
- Anatrachyntis badiaFlorida Pink Scavanger Caterpillar
- Anavitrinella pampinariaCommon Gray, Cranberry Spanworm
- Antheraea polyphemusPolyphemus Moth
- Argyrotaenia pinatubanaPine Tube Moth
- Argyrotaenia tabulanaLodgepole Needletier
- Argyrotaenia velutinanaRed-Banded Leafroller Moth, Jack Pine Tube Moth
Show all 117
- Battaristis vittellaOrange Striped-Back Moth
- Callophrys niphonPine Elfin
- Callosamia prometheaPromethea Silkmoth, Promethea Moth
- Calosima dianellaEastern Pine Catkin Borer Moth
- Caripeta aretariaSouthern Pine Looper Moth
- Choristoneura conflictanaLarge Aspen Tortrix
- Choristoneura fumiferanaSpruce Budworm Moth
- Choristoneura pinusJack Pine Budworm
- Choristoneura rosaceanaOblique-Banded Leafroller Moth, Rosaceous Leaf Roller
- Citheronia sepulcralisPine-Devil Moth
- Coleotechnites floraeColeotechnites Flower Moth, Red Pine Flower Moth
- Corticivora parvaBronze-Banded Corticivora
- Cydia anaranjadaSlash Pine Seedworm
- Cydia ingensLongleaf Pine Seedworm Moth
- Cydia toreutaEastern Pine Seedworm
- Dasychira mantoRusty Tussock Moth, Manto Tussock Moth
- Decantha boreasellaReticulated Decantha Moth
- Dichomeris setosellaHairy Dichomeris
- Dioryctria amatellaSouthern Pine Coneworm
- Dioryctria clarioralisBlister Coneworm
- Dioryctria disclusaWebbing Coneworm
- Dioryctria ebeliSouth Coastal Coneworm
- Dioryctria merkeliLoblolly Pineconeworm
- Dioryctria taedivorellaLesser Loblolly Pineconeworm Moth
- Ectropis crepusculariaThe Small Engrailed, Saddleback Looper
- Elaphria versicolorVariegated Midget
- Elasmopalpus lignosellaLesser Cornstalk Borer
- Euchlaena madusariaScrub Euchlaena
- Eucopina cocanaShortleaf Pine Cone Borer
- Eupithecia palpataSmall Pine Looper, Palpata Pug
- Eutrapela clematariaCurved-Tooth Geometer, Purplish Brown Looper
- Exoteleia pinifoliellaPine Needle Miner
- Feralia majorMajor Sallow, Pine Sallow
- Givira annaAnna Carpenterworm Moth
- Givira francescaFrancesca Carpenterworm Moth
- Hydriomena transfigurataTransfigured Hydriomena
- Hypagyrtis estherEsther Moth
- Hypagyrtis unipunctataOne-Spotted Variant
- Hyphantria cuneaFall Webworm
- Hypoprepia miniataScarlet-Winged Lichen Moth
- Hypsopygia intermedialisRed-Shawled Moth
- Iridopsis vellivolataLarge Purplish Gray
- Laetilia coccidivoraScale-Feeding Snout
- Lambdina fervidariaCurve-Lined Looper Moth
- Lambdina pellucidariaYellow-Headed Looper, Eastern Pine Looper
- Lapara coniferarumSouthern Pine Sphinx
- Lapara phaeobrachycerousBrou's Sphinx
- Macaria bicolorataBicolored Angle
- Macaria distribuariaSouthern Chocolate Angle
- Macaria transitariaBlurry Chocolate Angle
- Melanocinclis lineigeraLined Melanocinclis
- Melanolophia canadariaCanadian Melanolphia, Variable Redmarked Looper
- Metanema inatomariaPale Metanema
- Moodna ostrinellaDarker Moodna
- Moodna pallidostrinellaPaler Moodna
- Morrisonia confusaConfused Woodgrain
- Nematocampa resistariaFilament Bearer, Horned Spanworm Moth
- Nepytia semiclusariaPine Conelet Looper
- Oiketicus abbotiiAbbot's Bagworm Moth
- Orgyia leucostigmaWhite-Marked Tussock Moth
- Orthotaenia undulanaDusky Leafroller
- Palthis angulalisDark-Spotted Palthis
- Panthea furcillaEastern Panthea, Tufted Pine Panthea
- Patalene olyzonariaJuniper Geometer
- Platynota flavedanaBlack-Shaded Platynota
- Platynota idaeusalisTufted Apple-Bud Moth
- Platynota stultanaOmnivorous Leafroller
- Pococera melanogrammosBlack-Letter Pococera
- Pococera robustellaPine Webworm
- Prochoerodes lineolaLarge Maple Spanworm Moth
- Protoboarmia porcelariaPorcelain Gray, Dashedlined Looper
- Retinia gemistrigulanaGray Retinia
- Retinia houseriMinute Pitch-Blister Moth
- Retinia taedanaSouthern Pitch-Blister Moth
- Rhyacionia busckanaRed Pine Tip Moth, Red Pine Shoot Borer
- Rhyacionia frustranaNantucket Pine Tip Moth
- Rhyacionia grantiJack Pine Tip Moth, Jack Pine Shoot Borer
- Rhyacionia rigidanaPitch-Pine Tip Moth
- Rhyacionia subtropicaPine Tip Moth, Subtropical Pine Tip Moth
- Satronia tantillaSouthern Pine Catkinworm
- Sparganothis sulfureanaSparganothis Fruitworm Moth, Sulfur Leafroller, False Yellow-Head
- Spilosoma virginicaVirginian Tiger Moth, Yellow Woolybear Moth, Yellow Bear
- Spodoptera frugiperdaFall Armyworm Moth
- Strymon melinusGray Hairstreak
- Synanthedon scitulaDogwood Borer, Pecan Borer
- Syndemis afflictanaFall Dead-Leaf Roller, Gray Leafroller, Black-and-Grey Banded Leafroller
- Tetracis cachexiataWhite Slant-Line
- Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformisEvergreen Bagworm Moth
- Tolype notialisSmall Tolype
- Virbia aurantiacaOrange Virbia, Orange Holomelina
- Xestia elimataSouthern Variable Dart, Southern Pine Dart
- Zale buchholziBuchholz's Zale
- Zale confusaConfused Zale
- Zale curemaBlack-Eyed Zale, Northeastern Pine Zale
- Zale helataBrown-Spotted Zale
- Zale metataFawn Virginia Pine Zale
- Zale obliquaOblique Zale
- Zanclognatha marthaPine Barrens Zanclognatha, Pine Barrens Fan-Foot
- Zanclognatha protumnusalisConifer Zanclognatha, Complex Fan-Foot
- Basicladus celibata
- Caripeta latiorata
- Coleotechnites condignella
- Coleotechnites starki
- Laetilia myersella
- Rhyacionia aktita
- Rhyacionia fumosana
- Xenotemna pallorana
1BeesSoutheastern regional records
Southeastern regional records · Pinus
Individual names are not available yet.
Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
0Specialist beesPollen specialists
15BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim
Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Pinus
- Alectoris chukarChukar
- Anthus rubescensAmerican Pipit
- Aythya collarisRing-necked Duck
- Coccothraustes vespertinusEvening Grosbeak
- Conuropsis carolinensisCarolina Parakeet
- Dendragapus obscurusDusky Grouse
- Falcipennis canadensisSpruce Grouse
- Gymnorhinus cyanocephalusPinyon Jay
- Loxia curvirostraRed Crossbill
- Meleagris gallopavoWild Turkey
Show all 15
- Nucifraga columbianaClark's Nutcracker
- Patagioenas fasciataBand-tailed Pigeon
- Pinicola enucleatorPine Grosbeak
- Rhynchopsitta pachyrhynchaThick-billed Parrot
- Setophaga pinusPine Warbler
Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening
No records yet · Ants · Beetles · Flies · Adult butterflies / moths · Other wasps · Other insects
Growing and identification
Plant details
- Family
- Pinaceae
- Hardiness
- Zones 6a–9b
- Flower color
- Yellow
- Growth rate
- Rapid
- Growth habit
- Single stem
- Foliage color
- Green
- Fruit begins
- September
- Fruit ends
- October
Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.
Growing sources and scope
- Bloom · “Spring” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), USDA PLANTS differ)
- Flower color · “Yellow” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Foliage color · “Green” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Fruit begins · “September” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
- Fruit ends · “October” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
- Growth habit · “Single stem” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Growth rate · “Rapid” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Hardiness · “Zones 6a–9b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Height · “80–100 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs)
- Leaves · “Evergreen” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Life cycle · “Woody perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Tennessee Smart Yards, Virginia DCR Piedmont, Virginia DCR Coastal Plain differ)
- Soil · “Good drainage; Moist; Occasionally dry” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Tennessee Smart Yards, Virginia DCR Piedmont, Virginia DCR Coastal Plain differ)
- Spread · “20–40 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Conservation status
| Florida rank | S3S4 |
|---|---|
| Global rank | G5 |
| FL status | Not verified |
| Federal status | Not verified |
In your garden
Will it fit your yard?
Check this plant against your county, sun and soil moisture. Conditions are checked in your browser.
Choose a county to begin.
Sources
- Atlas of Florida Plants
- USDA PLANTS
- Vascular Plants of North Carolina (NC Natural Heritage Program)
- NatureServe Explorer
- Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
- Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
- Smith, Bachelder, Russell, Morales, Mosher & Seltmann 2024, Bee-Specialization-Modeling v0.6.1 (specialist host table compiled from J. Fowler's pollen specialist bee lists), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
- Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)
- Narango, Tallamy & Shropshire 2020, Few keystone plant genera support the majority of Lepidoptera species, Nature Communications