Pine, Slash

The Slash Pine is not a native of Texas, its natural range in the United States being along the coast from South Carolina to eastern Louisiana. The initial planting of the slash pine in East Texas was made on the E. O. Siecke State Forest near Kirbyville in 1926. It has been widely planted in East Texas and has been so successful in its growth and adaptability to the region that it is now accepted as a forest tree of the state. It is much favored for reforestation by planting because of its exceedingly rapid height growth, good survival and comparative freedom from tip moth damage.

In its native habitat a mature tree ranges to 100 feet high with a round-topped head and a trunk 1 to 3 feet in diameter.

The BARK ranges in thickness from 3/4 to 1 inch, separating freely on the surface in to large, thin scales.

The needle-like LEAVES occur in clusters of 2 and 3. are from 8 to 12 inches long and lustrous. The “FLOWERS” appear in late winter; the male dark purple, the female pink. The FRUIT, a cone usually 4 to 6 inches long, is brown and glossy with the thin scales armed with fine prickles.

Slash pine WOOD is exceedingly hard, very strong, durable, coarse-grained, rich, dark-orange color, with thick nearly white sap wood. In this respect it is nearly similar to longleaf pine, being sold as such, and used for the same purpose. Naval stores, lumber, pulpwood, and other products can be produced from this tree.