Longleaf pine is a large tree that is native to Southeastern United States. Although it is a tall, strong, and stately pine with unusually large green pom-poms called leaf clusters, Pinus palustris is often overlooked and underutilized in the forestry industry. This pine starts from seed as a clump of grass-like leaves until it shoots toward the sky as a tree.

Its leaves are needle shaped and about a foot long, meaning that Pinus palustris has the longest leaves of any U.S. pine. It also grows the largest pinecones and seeds of all native pines. The pine needles are grouped in clusters of about three all around a twig, giving the tree the appearance of having green pom-poms as leaves.

Pinus palustris bark is brown, thick, and rectangular, shedding on the outer layer. Longleaf pine's many layers of bark protects the tree trunk from fire.

Longleaf pine fruits are pine nuts that wildlife enjoy to eat.

Pinus palustris is is a flagship tree for a southeastern fire-tolerant ecosystem that can support a vast amount of plant and animal diversity. People can use the wood for lumber, the leaves for mulch, and the open forest floor for hunting game and growing edible wild plants.

Longleaf pine is a large tree that is native to Southeastern United States. Although it is a tall, strong, and stately pine with unusually large green pom-poms called leaf clusters, Pinus palustris is often overlooked and underutilized in the forestry industry. This pine starts from seed as a clump of grass-like leaves until it shoots up toward the sky as a tree.

Its leaves are needle shaped and about a foot long, meaning that Pinus palustris has the longest leaves of any U.S. pine. The pine needles are grouped in clusters of about three all around a twig, giving the tree the appearance of having green pom-poms as leaves.

The longleaf pine grows the largest pinecones and seeds of all native pines.

Pinus palustris bark is brown, thick, and rectangular, shedding on the outer layer. The trunk's many outer layers of bark protect the growing inner layers from fire damage.