{"assessment":{"band":"Strong","factor_identity":{"basis":"approved shared identity","growth_habit_source":"USDA PLANTS","name_used":"Pinus echinata"},"factor_scopes":{"bees":"Southeastern North America","birds":"North America","caterpillars":"Host genera of native Lepidoptera with established South Carolina range; association and range overlap, not confirmed local feeding.","specialists":"Eastern North America","structure":"USDA species growth habit where matched; otherwise sourced atlas growth habit"},"factors":{"applied_insect_credit":0,"baseline_score":74,"composite":0.808,"insect_support":{"credit":0,"groups":{"ants":{"credit":0,"flower_visits":[],"label":"Ants","recorded_name_count":null,"recorded_names":[],"seed_interactions":[],"status":"unknown"},"beetles":{"credit":0,"flower_visits":[],"label":"Beetles","recorded_name_count":null,"recorded_names":[],"seed_interactions":[],"status":"unknown"},"flies":{"credit":0,"flower_visits":[],"label":"Flies","recorded_name_count":null,"recorded_names":[],"seed_interactions":[],"status":"unknown"},"moths_butterflies":{"credit":0,"flower_visits":[],"label":"Adult butterflies / moths","recorded_name_count":null,"recorded_names":[],"seed_interactions":[],"status":"unknown"},"other_hymenoptera":{"credit":0,"flower_visits":[],"label":"Other wasps","recorded_name_count":null,"recorded_names":[],"seed_interactions":[],"status":"unknown"},"other_insects":{"credit":0,"flower_visits":[],"label":"Other insects","recorded_name_count":null,"recorded_names":[],"seed_interactions":[],"status":"unknown"}},"interpretation":"One provisional point per additional documented insect group, capped at five. Flower visits are a resource-use proxy, not confirmed feeding or pollination. Missing evidence is unknown. Study volume and repeated records earn no extra credit.","maximum_credit":5,"version":"insect-support-1"},"pct":{"bees":0.5272952853598015,"birds":0.9503722084367245,"caterpillars":0.9826302729528535,"specialists":0.4323821339950372,"structure":1},"rank_pct":0.8,"raw":{"bees":1,"birds":15,"caterpillars":142,"genus_used":null,"specialists":0,"structure":["Tree"]}},"fit_score":null,"native_basis":"native_inferred","rarity_adjustment":0,"rarity_policy":"Conservation status is displayed separately and never changes ecological scores, including when unranked.","reason":"Calculated with the shared rules using South Carolina host-range and shared ecological evidence.","reference":"NC native reference cohort, method 0.6.4; not a South Carolina percentile","score":74,"scoring_inputs":{"harm_penalty":0,"invasive":false,"invasive_rank":null,"native":true,"state_rank":""},"source_ids":["lep_sc","globi","bigbee","avian","usdahabit","robertson","antseed"],"status":"scored_provisional","version":"shared-0.6.5"},"condition_evidence":{"light":{"evidence_id":"fact:7d2e62951cbdd6341c09a287ffd28281599ddb43eb95f7e6adbf1835f72a879e","levels":[2,3,4],"policy":"selected-condition-categories-1","range":[2,4],"scope":null,"semantics":"source_light_categories_preserved_without_hour_conversion","source_field":"light","source_label":"NC Extension Plant Toolbox","source_url":"https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/pinus-echinata/","status":"mapped_selected_fact"},"moisture":{"evidence_id":"fact:f9d1ef5614caf792ddced8c42685a766d9310d17eadca6dc5169dfe8b66a429f","levels":[1,3],"policy":"selected-condition-categories-1","range":[1,3],"scope":null,"semantics":"source_drainage_or_moisture_categories_preserved","source_field":"soil_drainage","source_label":"NC Extension Plant Toolbox","source_url":"https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/pinus-echinata/","status":"mapped_selected_fact"}},"evidence":{"fit_score":null,"growth_habit":["Tree"],"invasive_status":{"status":"unresolved"},"native_status":{"status":"native_inferred"},"occurrence":{"county_fips":["45001","45003","45007","45009","45013","45015","45017","45019","45021","45023","45035","45037","45039","45043","45045","45047","45049","45051","45053","45055","45057","45059","45063","45071","45073","45083","45085","45087","45089","45091"],"meaning":"Recorded occurrence; not a county native-range assertion"},"quercus_score":null,"regional":{"county_fips":["45001","45003","45007","45009","45013","45015","45017","45019","45021","45023","45035","45037","45039","45043","45045","45047","45049","45051","45053","45055","45057","45059","45063","45071","45073","45083","45085","45087","45089","45091"],"growth_habit":"tree","growth_habit_source":"tnky_atlas","invasive":null,"invasive_evidence":[],"invasive_rank":null,"native":true,"native_evidence":[{"claim":"native","matched_name":"Pinus echinata","scope":"TN-KY","source":"tnky_atlas","url":"https://tennessee-kentucky.plantatlas.usf.edu/plant/species/576"},{"claim":"native","matched_name":"Pinus echinata","scope":"L48","source":"usda","text":"L48:N","url":"https://plants.usda.gov/"},{"claim":"native","matched_name":"Pinus echinata","scope":"NC","source":"nc_flora","url":"https://auth1.dpr.ncparks.gov/flora/"}],"native_status":"native_inferred","source_ids":["sernec:95553"],"source_name":"Pinus echinata","source_refs":["SC-checklist-5.html","sernec_county"],"source_url":"https://sernecportal.org/portal/checklists/checklist.php?pagenumber=5&clid=3141&dynclid=0&pid=84&searchsynonyms=1","state_rank":null},"source_refs":["SC-checklist-5.html","sernec_county"],"source_url":"https://sernecportal.org/portal/checklists/checklist.php?pagenumber=5&clid=3141&dynclid=0&pid=84&searchsynonyms=1","state_rank":{"value":null}},"fit_inputs":{"light":[2,4],"moisture":[1,3],"ph":[4,6]},"fit_provenance":{"counties":"USDA PLANTS: recorded in 61 NC counties","light":"NC Extension Plant Toolbox","moisture":"NC Extension Plant Toolbox","ph":"USDA PLANTS"},"fit_record":{"band":"Strong","condition_evidence":{"light":{"evidence_id":"fact:7d2e62951cbdd6341c09a287ffd28281599ddb43eb95f7e6adbf1835f72a879e","levels":[2,3,4],"policy":"selected-condition-categories-1","range":[2,4],"scope":null,"semantics":"source_light_categories_preserved_without_hour_conversion","source_field":"light","source_label":"NC Extension Plant Toolbox","source_url":"https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/pinus-echinata/","status":"mapped_selected_fact"},"moisture":{"evidence_id":"fact:f9d1ef5614caf792ddced8c42685a766d9310d17eadca6dc5169dfe8b66a429f","levels":[1,3],"policy":"selected-condition-categories-1","range":[1,3],"scope":null,"semantics":"source_drainage_or_moisture_categories_preserved","source_field":"soil_drainage","source_label":"NC Extension Plant Toolbox","source_url":"https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/pinus-echinata/","status":"mapped_selected_fact"}},"county_fips":["13015","13027","13051","13059","13071","13075","13087","13103","13105","13141","13143","13145","13185","13209","13211","13245","13251","13257","13259","13261","13271","13275","13297","21011","21013","21035","21043","21051","21063","21069","21079","21089","21095","21109","21125","21129","21137","21147","21151","21153","21165","21189","21193","21197","21199","21203","21205","21221","21235","21237","37001","37013","37017","37019","37021","37023","37031","37033","37035","37037","37039","37045","37051","37055","37057","37059","37061","37063","37071","37073","37075","37077","37079","37081","37083","37085","37087","37089","37091","37097","37099","37101","37103","37105","37107","37109","37111","37119","37123","37125","37131","37133","37135","37137","37141","37145","37147","37151","37155","37157","37159","37161","37163","37167","37169","37171","37173","37183","37191","37193","37195","45001","45003","45007","45009","45013","45015","45017","45019","45021","45023","45035","45037","45039","45043","45045","45047","45049","45051","45053","45055","45057","45059","45063","45071","45073","45083","45085","45087","45089","45091","47001","47003","47005","47009","47011","47015","47017","47019","47031","47035","47037","47039","47041","47047","47049","47051","47055","47059","47061","47065","47069","47073","47081","47101","47107","47115","47119","47123","47129","47139","47141","47145","47149","47151","47153","47157","47159","47161","47163","47165","47173","47175","47179","47183","47185","47187"],"fit_inputs":{"light":[2,4],"moisture":[1,3],"ph":[4,6]},"fit_note":"Shared sunlight, moisture and pH calculation; county geography is an additional layer. Missing source traits remain unknown.","fit_provenance":{"counties":"USDA PLANTS: recorded in 61 NC counties","light":"NC Extension Plant Toolbox","moisture":"NC Extension Plant Toolbox","ph":"USDA PLANTS"},"garden_suitability":{"default_excluded":false,"flags":[],"review_status":"not_assessed"},"invasive_rank":false,"native_eligible":true,"quercus_score":74,"state":"SC"},"garden_suitability":{"default_excluded":false,"flags":[],"review_status":"not_assessed"},"growing_observations":{"extension":{"identity_basis":"Exact genus/species fields on cached page","matched_name":"Pinus echinata","retrieved":"2026-09-30T17:45:23.659833+00:00","source_label":"NC Extension Plant Toolbox","source_sha256":"ca31c4f19c4026a742c67a76327d5c8efb11ccde23559d45744ea945854747c9","source_url":"https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/pinus-echinata/","values":{"bloom_season":["Spring"],"hardiness_zones":["6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b"],"height_feet":[80,100],"leaf_habit":["Needled Evergreen"],"life_cycle":["Woody"],"light":["Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)","Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)"],"moisture_categories":["Moist","Occasionally Dry"],"nc_regions":["Coastal","Mountains","Piedmont"],"soil_drainage":["Good Drainage","Moist","Occasionally Dry"],"width_feet":[20,40]}},"floraquest_carolinas_georgia":{"matched_name":"Pinus echinata","retrieved":"2026-10-04T13:31:16.252589+00:00","scope":{"kind":"region","region_id":"floraquest_nc_sc_ga"},"scope_note":"Original regional ecological and identification evidence; no location-specific gardening adjustments.","source_label":"FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team)","source_name":"Pinus echinata","source_record_id":245,"source_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_url":"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.emountainworks.android.southeastfieldguide","trait_evidence":[{"field":"habitat_description","source_column":"HabitatText","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":245,"source_table":"Organism","value":"Dry to dry-mesic upland forests and woodlands, rocky ridges and slopes, glades, bluffs, Coastal Plain sandhills, old fields, riparian forests, generally in rather xeric sites and on acid soils, but also occurring in mesic to even wet sites and on mafic or subcalcareous rocks."},{"field":"geographic_range_description","source_column":"Description","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":245,"source_table":"Organism","value":"Widespread in se. North America, north to s. New York, New Jersey, s. Pennsylvania, s. Ohio, s. Illinois, s. Missouri, and e. Oklahoma, perhaps reaching its greatest importance in dry, sandstone landscapes, such as the Cumberland Plateau of West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama, and the Ozarks and Ouachitas of Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma."},{"field":"phenology_source_text","source_column":"Phenology","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":245,"source_table":"Organism","value":"Mar-Apr; Sep-Oct."},{"field":"taxonomic_synonymy","source_column":"Synonymy","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":245,"source_table":"Organism","value":"[= Ar, C, ETx1, F, Fl1, FNA2, G, Il, K1, K4, Mo1, NS, NY, Pa, POWO, RAB, S, S13, Tat, Tn, Tx, Va, W, WH3, WV, Price (1989), Ward (1963); = Pinus mitis Michx.]"},{"field":"identification_notes","source_column":"IdentificationNotes","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":245,"source_table":"Organism","value":"Where their ranges overlap, P. echinata often co-occurs with P. virginiana and is sometimes confused because both species have short needles and small cones that tend to persist on the trees. P. echinata has needles 7-13 cm long, not twisted, or slightly so, in bundles of 2, usually with some in bundles of 3, rather slender, 4 cm wide, with crater-like blisters ca. 1 mm in diameter (vs. bark plates mostly about 2 cm wide, without crater-like blisters), winter buds not very resinous (vs. very resinous), and 3-4 year-old twigs rough and flaking (vs. smoothish to rough). From a distance, Pinus echinata has a \"fuzzy\" look, with a rounded crown, lacking the slender \"spiky\" branches of P. virginiana projecting at angles upwards from the crown, instead having horizontal branches in the crown."},{"field":"heliophily_index","source_column":"HIndex","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":245,"source_table":"Organism","value":7},{"field":"habitat_moisture_categories","source_column":"Attr2","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":245,"source_table":"GraphicKey","value":["Dry","Moist"]},{"field":"habitat_light_categories","source_column":"Attr3","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":245,"source_table":"GraphicKey","value":["Partial shade","Full sun"]},{"field":"graphic_key_source_attributes","source_column":"Attr0..25","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":245,"source_table":"GraphicKey","value":{"Attr0":"gr13","Attr1":"nc_cp,nc_mt,nc_pd,sc_cp,sc_mt,sc_pd,ga_cp,ga_mt,ga_pd,","Attr10":"C050,C100,C500","Attr11":"C30,C50,C60","Attr2":"Dry,Moist","Attr3":"Part,Sun","Attr3a":"y","Attr3a_subregion":"native_nc_cp:y,native_nc_mt:y,native_nc_pd:y,native_sc_cp:y,native_sc_mt:y,native_sc_pd:y,native_ga_cp:y,native_ga_mt:y,native_ga_pd:y,","Attr4":" 2-5","Attr5":"y","Attr6":"Cc","Attr7":"c","Attr8":"2,3","Attr9":"t"}}],"values":{"geographic_range_description":"Widespread in se. North America, north to s. New York, New Jersey, s. Pennsylvania, s. Ohio, s. Illinois, s. Missouri, and e. Oklahoma, perhaps reaching its greatest importance in dry, sandstone landscapes, such as the Cumberland Plateau of West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama, and the Ozarks and Ouachitas of Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.","graphic_key_source_attributes":{"Attr0":"gr13","Attr1":"nc_cp,nc_mt,nc_pd,sc_cp,sc_mt,sc_pd,ga_cp,ga_mt,ga_pd,","Attr10":"C050,C100,C500","Attr11":"C30,C50,C60","Attr2":"Dry,Moist","Attr3":"Part,Sun","Attr3a":"y","Attr3a_subregion":"native_nc_cp:y,native_nc_mt:y,native_nc_pd:y,native_sc_cp:y,native_sc_mt:y,native_sc_pd:y,native_ga_cp:y,native_ga_mt:y,native_ga_pd:y,","Attr4":" 2-5","Attr5":"y","Attr6":"Cc","Attr7":"c","Attr8":"2,3","Attr9":"t"},"habitat_description":"Dry to dry-mesic upland forests and woodlands, rocky ridges and slopes, glades, bluffs, Coastal Plain sandhills, old fields, riparian forests, generally in rather xeric sites and on acid soils, but also occurring in mesic to even wet sites and on mafic or subcalcareous rocks.","habitat_light_categories":["Partial shade","Full sun"],"habitat_moisture_categories":["Dry","Moist"],"heliophily_index":7,"identification_notes":"Where their ranges overlap, P. echinata often co-occurs with P. virginiana and is sometimes confused because both species have short needles and small cones that tend to persist on the trees. P. echinata has needles 7-13 cm long, not twisted, or slightly so, in bundles of 2, usually with some in bundles of 3, rather slender, 4 cm wide, with crater-like blisters ca. 1 mm in diameter (vs. bark plates mostly about 2 cm wide, without crater-like blisters), winter buds not very resinous (vs. very resinous), and 3-4 year-old twigs rough and flaking (vs. smoothish to rough). From a distance, Pinus echinata has a \"fuzzy\" look, with a rounded crown, lacking the slender \"spiky\" branches of P. virginiana projecting at angles upwards from the crown, instead having horizontal branches in the crown.","phenology_source_text":"Mar-Apr; Sep-Oct.","taxonomic_synonymy":"[= Ar, C, ETx1, F, Fl1, FNA2, G, Il, K1, K4, Mo1, NS, NY, Pa, POWO, RAB, S, S13, Tat, Tn, Tx, Va, W, WH3, WV, Price (1989), Ward (1963); = Pinus mitis Michx.]"}},"usda":{"matched_name":"Pinus echinata","retrieved":"2026-09-24","scope":"Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary","source_label":"USDA PLANTS","source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/","usda_id":15448,"values":{"bloom_season":"Mid Spring","flower_color":"Yellow","foliage_color":"Green","fruit_season_begin":"Summer","fruit_season_end":"Fall","growth_architecture":"Single Stem","growth_rate":"Rapid","height_ft":100,"leaf_retention":"Yes"}},"ut_smart_yards":{"identity_basis":"Exact scientific name; no new synonym guesses","matched_name":"Pinus echinata","modified":"2017-01-19T23:07:04+00:00","page_id":"10738","scope":"Published Tennessee growing guidance; exact cached scientific heading","source_label":"Tennessee Smart Yards","source_url":"https://tynnativeplants.wordpress.com/trees/scientific-name/shortleaf-pine-yellow-pine-spruce-pine/","values":{"light":["Full sun"],"moisture_categories":["medium to dry"]}},"virginia_coastal":{"identity_basis":"Exact scientific name; no new synonym guesses","matched_name":"Pinus echinata","page":2,"retrieved":"2026-09-30T18:00:37.533960+00:00","row_top":917.3203,"scope":"Virginia regional planting chart; sunlight is a minimum requirement, moisture is low/moderate/high","source_label":"Virginia DCR Coastal Plain","source_sha256":"c7dc029781c9ba41743547b5b3234bbe1c4c027e3137534abdc4b4fe2cf39612","source_url":"https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/document/cp-nat-plants.pdf","values":{"light":["Partial sun (minimum requirement)","Full sun (minimum requirement)"],"moisture_categories":["Low"]}},"virginia_piedmont":{"identity_basis":"Exact scientific name; no new synonym guesses","matched_name":"Pinus echinata","page":2,"retrieved":"2026-09-30T18:00:36.632111+00:00","row_top":897.5196000000001,"scope":"Virginia regional planting chart; sunlight is a minimum requirement, moisture is low/moderate/high","source_label":"Virginia DCR Piedmont","source_sha256":"cb946fa6b7fa4ad5694d1debe04b04c392bc7389af2321eeab1ebcff381a5be3","source_url":"https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/document/pied-nat-plants.pdf","values":{"light":["Partial sun (minimum requirement)","Full sun (minimum requirement)"],"moisture_categories":["Low"]}}},"light_range":["part shade","full sun"],"light_source":"NC Extension Plant Toolbox","native_synthesis":{"claims":[{"claim":"native","matched_name":"Pinus echinata","scope":"TN-KY","source":"tnky_atlas","url":"https://tennessee-kentucky.plantatlas.usf.edu/plant/species/576"},{"claim":"native","matched_name":"Pinus echinata","scope":"L48","source":"usda","text":"L48:N","url":"https://plants.usda.gov/"},{"claim":"native","matched_name":"Pinus echinata","scope":"NC","source":"nc_flora","url":"https://auth1.dpr.ncparks.gov/flora/"}],"county_native_range":"unresolved","explanation":"Source scopes are preserved. State occurrence alone does not establish nativity; combined regional evidence is labeled estimated.","label":"Native to South Carolina (estimated from combined sources)","rule":"southeast-native-synthesis-1","status":"native_inferred"},"source_name":"Pinus echinata","taxon_id":"taxon:a7ff4d94-f86e-515a-b3f9-0d9e90b7ab29","revision":"publish:5809c037-0e9a-430a-8008-5ab6f69800c0","photos":[{"id":"pinus-echinata-106276271","src":"/api/photos/image/cd23af55b7948c1abe04cc5b63144d467a85be616aabccca703ccff29fb83c7f.jpg","view":"other","alt":"Pinus echinata — seedling photograph","width":960,"height":720,"artist":"FUchesco","license":"CC BY-SA 4.0","license_url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0","source_url":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pinus_echinata_seedlings.jpg","changes":"Wikimedia thumbnail; no crop or retouching"}]}