The Pines of Florida: Non- Natives

In addition to all of our cool native pine trees, there are some non-natives that have been planted in Florida.

Some of these species don’t prove very hearty in Florida and our seasonal rain and dry periods can be very difficult for pines that dwell best in moist soil. Most of these are more ‘Christmas tree’ species that have been brought to the state as many of our pines aren’t the sort you hang ornaments on whilst drinking eggnog.

Additionally, a few species from the south Pacific have been given the name of ‘pine’ but they aren’t actually pines at all.

The Non-Natives

Eastern White Pine ( Pinus strobu) is a North American native tree, but  the natural range of this species only extends south to northern Georgia. This species is both long lived with some trees approaching 500 years of age and also very tall with individual trees reaching heights of 160 to 188 feet in height. The photo at the right is from 1 1902 article on pests of white pine and illustrates an Imperial Moth caterpillar eating a needle of this pine.

Virginia Pine ( Pinus virginiana) has a native range from Long Island south into Alabama and west to Tennessee. This species is one of the most often used choices for Christmas trees.

Japanese Black Pine ( Pinus thumbergiana) is native to Japan and is both pollution and salt tolerant. This species can be artfully pruned or trained into growth habits or even kept potted and pruned as a bonsai tree

The Non-Native Non-Pines

Norfolk Island pine (Araucaria heterophylla) Native to the southern Pacific Norfolk Island which lies to the east of Australia, this tree is often sold as a potted table-top ‘Christmas Tree’. Norfolk Island pines actually aren’t related to pines and instead are more closely related to the odd  evergreen Monkey Puzzle tree (Araucaria araucana) and Bunya-Bunya tree (Araucaria bidwillii)

Australian pine (Casuarina equisetifolia) is a fast growing and salt tolerant tree native to southern Asia south to northern Australia. The Australian Pine was one of the many quick growing species planted in the Florida land boom after WWII that have caused extensive trouble to the native Florida ecosystems. These trees are prone to blowing over in high winds and also do not tolerate fire well at all.  This species is considered a Category 1 invasive species in Florida and sale, trade or planting of this species is prohibited.