Small to large tree with an erect, straight trunk. Bark gray to brown, flaking in strips. Needles deciduous, thin, light green, almost always held flat against the twig.
Dimensions:
Typically 10-80 feet in height in South Florida; to 115 feet in Florida. Usually taller than broad.
Growth Rate:
Moderate.
Range:
Eastern and southeastern United States west to Texas and south to Miami-Dade County and the Monroe County mainland.
Habitats:
Freshwater swamps and marl prairies.
Soils:
Wet to moist, poorly-drained to moderately well-drained calcareous, sandy or organic soils, with or without humus.
Nutritional Requirements:
Moderate to high; grows best with some organic content and may languish in nutrient poor soils.
Salt Water Tolerance:
Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance:
Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.
Drought Tolerance:
Low; requires moist to wet soils and is intolerant of long periods of drought.
Light Requirements:
Full sun.
Flower Color:
Green turning brown.
Flower Characteristics:
Cone.
Flowering Season:
Spring.
Fruit:
Cone.
Wildlife and Ecology:
Provides some food and moderate amounts of cover for wildlife.
Horticultural Notes:
Can be grown from seed soaked in water for 24-48 hours.
Comments:
Depending on nutrients and water availability, this can be a small tree or tree-like shrub or it can be a large tree.
Gann, G.D., M.E. Abdo, J.W. Gann, G.D. Gann, Sr., S.W.
Woodmansee, K.A. Bradley, E. Grahl and K.N. Hines. 2005-2013. Natives For Your Neighborhood. http://www.regionalconservation.org.
The Institute for Regional Conservation. Delray Beach, Florida USA.