Poor Longleaf Pine Cone Prospects for 2025
June 11, 2025
Longleaf pine cone production is variable, with infrequent good crops, more so than other southern yellow pine species. The process is influenced by many environmental factors over the course of the cones' two-year development, with large differences observed from year to year and also from place to place.
2025 Longleaf Cone Report
The United States Forest Service and collaborators monitor longleaf pine cone production at 11 locations throughout the Southeast.
Having an idea of upcoming cone crops helps longleaf growers plan for nursery seedling production and informs land managers' upcoming activities to promote natural regeneration, like prescribed burning or selective harvesting.
The regional cone crop, based on green cone counts, is POOR for 2025, at 12.4 cones per tree.
Although mostly low counts for this year’s crop, the natural variation, typically seen across the native range of longleaf pine, is apparent in this year’s data, with three sites having fair crops, one site having a poor crop, and six sites having failed crops.
NO bumper (>100 cones per tree) or good (50 to 99 cones per tree) crops were observed at any of the sample locations.
A fair crop (25 to 49 cones per tree) is present at 3 sample sites: Santa Rosa County, Florida; Baker County, Georgia; and Bladen County, North Carolina.
A poor crop (10 to 24 cones per tree) is present at one sample site.
Sand Hills State Forest in Chesterfield County, South Carolina, has an estimated 18 cones/tree.
A failed crop (<10 cones per tree) is present at 6 sample sites: Grant Parish, Louisiana; Okaloosa County, Florida; Leon County, Florida; Chattahoochee County, Georgia; and Putnam County, Florida.
Five of these sites also experienced failed crops in 2024.
The natural variation of longleaf pine cone production means that even when crops are forecast to be low, some stands may produce an abundance of cones.
The best way to know the status on cone production for your particular property is to visually estimate cone production yourself. Instructions and a data collection sheet can be found in the 2025 Cone Prospects Report.
Limited Seed Supply for Longleaf Seedlings
Low seed production in 2024 and projections for 2025 indicate that seed supply will become critically limited for next year's seedlings. We need your help to identify areas of high longleaf pine cone production for potential harvest locations this fall. Even in a bad year, there is usually a decent cone crop somewhere.
Landowners with fair or better cone crops may have a potential income opportunity if their longleaf stands are large enough and easily operable (low density with machine access for collection). The Longleaf Alliance can help connect good sites with those specialists seeking places to harvest.
We're asking the public to share their observations in this easy online survey.
Longleaf Pine Seed Production & Germination
+ From strobili to pollination to fertilization to viable seed, the seeds contained in this year's longleaf pine cones have been over 2 years in the making.
+ Longleaf seed is larger and heavier than other southern pines. It does not disperse far from the parent tree.
+ Longleaf pine cones release seed in the fall, and the seed will germinate just a couple weeks after falling to the ground. You’ll often see new germinants with the seed/wing still attached.
+ Cone collection for longleaf pine seed harvesting occurs when the cones are mature to ensure maximum viability.