Quick Facts
Exposure: Full Sun
Height at Maturity: 60-90 Feet
Usage: Evergreen
Shipped As: Bare-root
Planting Zones: 6-9
Product Details
Loblolly pine seedlings (Pinus taeda) are the backbone of southern timber and reforestation. Tennessee Wholesale Nursery ships them bare root and dormant in bundles of 100, 500 and 1,000 for timberland owners, forestry consultants, reforestation crews, conservation programs and landowners planting cover for wildlife. Loblolly is the fastest-growing of the southern yellow pines, which is why it is the most widely planted commercial tree in the Southeast.
Loblolly Pine Quick Facts
| Botanical name | Pinus taeda (loblolly pine, old-field pine, North Carolina pine) |
|---|---|
| Family | Pinaceae (pine family) |
| USDA zones | 6 to 9 |
| Mature size | 60 to 90 feet tall, 20 to 40 feet wide |
| Growth rate | Fast, often 2 to 3 feet per year on good sites |
| Light | Full sun |
| Soil | Clay, loam or sand; moist, acidic ground is ideal |
| Needles | Three per bundle, 6 to 9 inches, yellow-green |
| Grades | 6-12 inch, 12-18 inch, row run 6-24 inch |
| Bundles | 100, 500, 1,000 bare root seedlings |
Built for Timber Rotations
Loblolly earns its place on working forest land through volume. Seedlings set on prepared sites move into pulpwood size quickly and continue on to chip-n-saw and sawtimber, giving owners several harvest options across one rotation. The straight bole and strong apical growth make it the standard species for pine plantations, and the wood goes into dimensional lumber, plywood, poles and paper.
Who Orders Bulk Loblolly Pine
- Timber investors and family forest owners replanting after harvest or converting old fields.
- Reforestation and conservation crews establishing pine stands on idle cropland and pasture.
- Hunting land managers planting thinned pine blocks for deer bedding, turkey roosts and bobwhite quail habitat.
- Farms and rural properties needing a fast evergreen windbreak or visual screen.
Site and Soil
Loblolly adapts to a wide band of southern soils, from heavy Piedmont clay to Coastal Plain sand. It thrives on moist flats and lower slopes where other pines grow slowly, and on old fields it often outpaces every other conifer. Give it full sun and it will reward you with steady height growth from the first season.
Seedlings per Acre
| Spacing | Trees per acre | Typical goal |
|---|---|---|
| 6 x 10 ft | About 725 | Pulpwood and early thinning income |
| 8 x 10 ft | About 545 | Balanced timber and wildlife stand |
| 10 x 12 ft | About 365 | Sawtimber and open understory for game |
A 1,000-seedling bundle plants close to two acres at 8 by 10 foot spacing.
Wildlife Value
Seeds feed squirrels, wild turkey, quail and songbirds such as pine warblers and brown-headed nuthatches. Thinned and burned loblolly stands open the understory to native grasses and forbs, which is prime brood habitat for quail and browse for white-tailed deer. For other evergreen options, read our guide to evergreen trees for year-round privacy and our overview of practical uses for conifers.
Companion Species
Many landowners run loblolly blocks alongside hardwood corridors of white oak seedlings and persimmon for mast and soft fruit. For a slower, drier-site pine, compare Virginia pine seedlings.
Loblolly Pine Seedling FAQs
How fast do loblolly pine seedlings grow?
On good sites, loblolly commonly adds 2 to 3 feet a year once established, the fastest rate among southern pines.
How many loblolly pines should I plant per acre?
Most plantings run 435 to 725 trees per acre, with about 545 at 8 by 10 foot spacing as the common middle ground.
What zones are loblolly pine seedlings suited to?
Loblolly pine grows in USDA zones 6 through 9. Check your site with our USDA zone finder.
When do loblolly pine seedlings ship?
They ship bare root and dormant in November, the start of the southern pine planting season.
Can I get a quote for a large timber planting?
Yes. Send species, grade and count through our wholesale pricing request and we will put together a quote with freight.
Tennessee Grown Since 1959
Tennessee Wholesale Nursery is the wholesale division of TN Nursery, started by Roscoe Tate in 1959 and still run by the family on 170 acres in Altamont, Tennessee. Loblolly bundles are lifted dormant, roots are treated with Terra-Sorb hydrogel, and each bundle is sealed to stay moist for up to 12 days in transit. Every order ships under our Arrive Alive guarantee.
Loblolly is one of our bulk tree seedlings, sold wholesale with oak, pine, cypress and maple seedlings for reforestation and timber plantings.