What kind of light does Arkansas Pine need?

Shortleaf pine grows best in full sun and can tolerate some part sun, especially as a young tree in open woodland settings.

How much water does Arkansas Pine need?

Once established, shortleaf pine tolerates low water and dry, well-drained soils, though it also handles medium moisture levels without trouble.

Does Arkansas Pine lose its needles in winter?

No, shortleaf pine is evergreen and keeps its needles year round, shedding older needles gradually rather than all at once.

When does Arkansas Pine produce pollen or cones?

Shortleaf pine typically sheds pollen from its cones in early spring, generally March to April, with seed cones maturing later in the growing season.

Is Shortleaf Pine toxic to livestock?

The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Shortleaf Pine as toxic to livestock.

Is Shortleaf Pine HOA-friendly?

Shortleaf Pine is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

Shortleaf Pine

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Pinus echinata

Last reviewed: October 2026

Shortleaf pine is a tall evergreen conifer with slender needles, well suited to full sun and dry to medium soils across the southeastern and mid-Atlantic United States.

Toxicity unknown

Shortleaf Pine (Pinus echinata) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Shortleaf Pine as toxic to livestock.

Light

full sun

Water

low

Size

600"–1200" H × 240"–360" W

Bloom

Mar, Apr, May

Native to

AL, AR, CT, DE and 19 more states

Pollinators

butterflies

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 459 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

Find rebates in your area

Picture natives in your own yard

Upload a photo of your yard and Patch Vision shows a rendering of it planted with natives for your region, like Shortleaf Pine.

Try it with your yard

Browse plants for this ecoregion

Cross Timbers East Central Texas Plains South Central Plains Eastern Temperate Forests Ozark Highlands Piedmont Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain Northern Piedmont Southeastern Plains Blue Ridge Ridge and Valley Central Appalachians Western Allegheny Plateau Interior Plateau Interior River Valleys and Hills Mississippi Alluvial Plain Mississippi Valley Loess Plains Southern Coastal Plain Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens

A tall evergreen tree with a straight trunk and open, irregular crown. It develops attractive orange-brown bark that becomes plated with age and produces small cones. This drought-tolerant pine grows slowly but steadily in full sun conditions.

Growing Shortleaf Pine

Grow Shortleaf Pine in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 600 to 1200 inches tall and spread 240 to 360 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Shortleaf Pine is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.

Works well in: front yard, mid zone, street edge.

Very large mature size may overwhelm smaller properties
Slow growth means long establishment period

Wildlife value

Provides nesting sites and shelter for birds, while seeds feed wildlife like squirrels and birds. The evergreen foliage offers year-round cover for various animals.

Common questions

What kind of light does Arkansas Pine need?: Shortleaf pine grows best in full sun and can tolerate some part sun, especially as a young tree in open woodland settings.
How much water does Arkansas Pine need?: Once established, shortleaf pine tolerates low water and dry, well-drained soils, though it also handles medium moisture levels without trouble.
Does Arkansas Pine lose its needles in winter?: No, shortleaf pine is evergreen and keeps its needles year round, shedding older needles gradually rather than all at once.
When does Arkansas Pine produce pollen or cones?: Shortleaf pine typically sheds pollen from its cones in early spring, generally March to April, with seed cones maturing later in the growing season.
Is Shortleaf Pine toxic to livestock?: The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Shortleaf Pine as toxic to livestock.
Is Shortleaf Pine HOA-friendly?: Shortleaf Pine is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

See all plant problem guides

Ready to grow Shortleaf Pine? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

Add this plant to your garden

iPhone app Android app