In 1963, the pine was designated as the state tree of North Carolina. There are eight species of pine found in the state (Eastern White, Loblolly, Longleaf, Pitch, Pond, Shortleaf, Table Mountain, and Virginia), but no variety is “official.” Long Leaf Pine is considered by many to be the official variety of the state, primarily due to the fact that North Carolina’s highest civil honor is called “The Order of the Long Leaf Pine.”
Different types of pine
Because it grows quickly and grows well in sandy or acidic soils (which is most of our soil), the »Pinus palustris» is the most commonly found tree in the state. It’s called a longleaf pine because it actually has the longest needs in the pine family – needles that can grow to over 18 inches long! This tree is easy to identify because the needles always grow in clusters of three. Longleaf pine can live for several centuries, and a slow-growing pine can live more than 300 years.
The southern longleaf pine, a slightly different tree, is the official state tree of Alabama. This tree was once incredibly popular across the country, covering more than 90 million acres of land (from Virginia to Florida on the east coast, spreading west through Louisiana and Texas). Today, however, it covers only about 3% of that area. It was considered essentially an unlimited resource for the first settlers, with entire forests cut down for their use.
Due to its exceptional quality, it was often used to build ships and railways. Rather than replanting the longleaf pine variety, foresters planted varieties that grew much faster. They are also quite useful and durable in their life as trees. They are especially durable to strong storms, they are quite tolerant to poles and more resistant to fire than many other trees, and they remove carbon pollution from the atmosphere.
Pine is probably the most important wood in the construction industry, and until the 1860s, North Carolina provided much of the nation’s pine.
The order of the longleaf pine
The highest honor a civilian can receive in North Carolina is named after this tree. It was originally intended exclusively for visiting dignitaries, but has now been extended to honor notable people. The “Order of the Pine Longleaf” is awarded to individuals who have a “proven record of extraordinary service to the state.” Notable recipients include Maya Angelou, Billy Graham, Andy Griffith, Michael Jordan, Oprah Winfrey, and Danny Glover. It was first awarded in 1964 and has been delivered to more than 15,000 people.
