“P” is for Pines.

“P” is for Pines. Nine native pine species are found within South Carolina. South Carolina pines can be divided into two general groups, white pines and yellow pines. The eastern white pine is the only white pine in the state. The rest of the pines are yellow: loblolly; longleaf; slash; Virginia; shortleaf; pitch pine; pond; table mountain; and spruce. Loblolly and slash are the preferred species for use on pine plantations. More than 4 million acres of forest in the state are classified as loblolly pine forest. Pines are extremely important economically and ecologically within South Carolina. More that 5,750,000 acres of state forestland contain pine as important or dominant cover. Pines form the basis of the timber industry in South Carolina and make up the number one cash crop in the state.