Shortleaf Pine

Shortleaf Pine (Pinus echinata)

Common Name(s): Shortleaf Pine

Scientific Name: Pinus echinata

Distribution: Southeastern United States, though also widely grown on plantations

Tree Size: 65-100 ft (20-30 m) tall, 2-3 ft (.6-1 m) trunk diameter

Average Dried Weight: 35 lbs/ft³ (570 kg/m³)

Basic Specific Gravity: .47

Hardness: 690 lb_f (3,070 N)

Rupture Strength: 13,100 lb_f/in² (90,300 kPa)

Elastic Strength: 1,750,000 lb_f/in² (12,100 MPa)

Crushing Strength: 7,270 lb_f/in² (50.1 MPa)

Shrinkage: Radial: 4.6%, Tangential: 7.7%, Volumetric: 12.3%, T/R Ratio: 1.7

Color/Appearance: Heartwood is reddish brown, sapwood is yellowish white.

Grain/Pore: Straight grained with a fine to medium texture and closed pores.

Durability: The heartwood is rated as moderate to low in decay resistance.

Workability: Overall, Shortleaf Pine works fairly well with most tools, though the resin can gum up tools and clog sandpaper. It has a moderate dulling effect on cutting edges. Shortleaf Pine glues and finishes well.

Scent: Has a distinct smell that is shared among most species in the Pinus genus.

Safety: Working with pine has been reported to cause allergic skin reactions and/or asthma in some people. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Price/Availability: Should be widely available as construction lumber for a modest price.

Comments: Shortleaf Pine is considered to be in the group of southern yellow pines, and shares many characteristics with other species of this group (Longleaf, Slash , and Loblolly Pine) such as being: hard, dense, and possessing an excellent strength-to-weight ratio.

Shortleaf Pine is used for heavy construction, such as: bridges, beams, poles, railroad ties, etc. It’s also used for making plywood, wood pulp, and veneers.

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