Virginia pine is a small to medium pine with short, twisted needles in pairs and small cones. It often has a scraggly form and is quick to colonize abandoned fields and disturbed sites.
Habitat and range
In Maryland, Virginia pine grows on dry ridges, old fields, and poor soils across the state. It tolerates drought and acidic, infertile soils and is common in the piedmont and on the coastal plain.
Uses and significance
The wood is used for pulp and lumber. Virginia pine provides cover for wildlife and is important in early successional and fire-adapted communities. It is sometimes grown for Christmas trees.