Quick answer: Pitch pine (Pinus rigida) is native to 12 states. What's commonly sold under this name is often a bred variety or the wrong species — see the lookalike alert below. No live listing of the true species was found as of 16 Sep 2026.
Photo: Famartin, Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA-3.0)
Where it's native
Listed in the directory as native to these states. Click a state for its full native-plant guide.
Growing conditions
From the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Native Plant Database.
| Sun | Sun |
|---|---|
| Water | Low water, Dry |
| Soil | Dry, rocky or sandy soil, salt tolerant |
| Bloom | Bloom Mar-May |
| Height | 40-70 ft, up to 100 ft |
| Wildlife value | Twigs/leaves/seeds important wildlife food, larval host for Pine-devil Moth |
Lookalike alert
⚠ No fix found 15 Sep 2026 — no genuine Amazon.com listing found; searches return Pinus pinea, P. taeda, or P. strobus — all wrong species.
No live seed or plant listing found as of 16 Sep 2026. That means our last search didn't surface one — not that the plant is unavailable. Try a regional native-plant nursery.
Quick answers about Pitch pine
Where is Pitch pine native?
Pitch pine (Pinus rigida) is native to 12 states across the Northeast and South. Check your state's page in this directory for the full list of plants native where you live.
When does Pitch pine bloom?
Pitch pine blooms Mar-May. Exact timing shifts a few weeks with latitude and elevation.
What growing conditions does Pitch pine need?
Light: Sun. Water: Low water, Dry. Soil: Dry, rocky or sandy soil, salt tolerant. Mature height: 40-70 ft, up to 100 ft.
Is Pitch pine good for pollinators and wildlife?
Yes. Wildlife value: Twigs/leaves/seeds important wildlife food, larval host for Pine-devil Moth.
Is Pitch pine deer-resistant or drought-tolerant?
Pitch pine is drought-tolerant.
Where can I buy Pitch pine?
We haven't found an online listing of the true wild species as of 16 Sep 2026. A regional native-plant nursery or native seed company is your best source; ask for Pinus rigida by its scientific name.
Similar native plants
Native plants that share growing conditions or range with Pitch pine.
- Boxelder Acer negundo
- Mountain laurel Kalmia latifolia
- Sassafras Sassafras albidum
- American holly Ilex opaca
- Bear oak Quercus ilicifolia
- Flowering dogwood Cornus florida
Also listed under
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