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The Ecosystem

HomeWhat is Longleaf?The EcosystemBuilt by Fire

Built by Fire

Frequent, low intensity, and often large scale, surface fires were the dominant factor in shaping the longleaf pine ecosystems across the historical range. This frequent fire regime, over generations, selected for longleaf pine’s fire-resistant attributes.

Fire prepares the seed bed for increased chance of survival for longleaf pine germinants. Photo by Sarah Crate.
Fire prepares the seed bed for increased chance of survival for longleaf pine germinants. Photo by Sarah Crate.
New needle growth on grass stage longleaf after being scorched in a fire. Photo by Randy Tate.
New needle growth on grass stage longleaf after being scorched in a fire. Photo by Randy Tate.
Thick plates of bark protect inner wood from surface fires. Charred bark is a sign  of a previous fire. Photo by Robert Abernethy.
Thick plates of bark protect inner wood from surface fires. Charred bark is a sign of a previous fire. Photo by Robert Abernethy.

Seeds & Seedlings

Fire consumes litter on the forest floor, creating optimal conditions for germination. While longleaf seeds can germinate almost anywhere (on rocks, logs, forest mulch), they survive best on mineral soil. New germinants are susceptible to fire, however, until reaching the grass stage.

Grass Stage

Grass stage longleaf focus their growth underground in their roots while their long, dense needles protect the growth bud above ground. When a fire occurs, any burned or scorched needles will be quickly replaced with new growth. During the grass stage, longleaf pine seedlings are very resistant to fire damage.

“Rocket” Stage

Once longleaf initiates height growth, it grows rapidly in a short period of time, securing an advantageous position to gather sunlight. As it grows, newly emerged ‘candles’ may be vulnerable to damage until new (and protective) needles develop or the growing tip moves above typical flame heights. During the rocket stage, longleaf pine trees are also slightly more vulnerable to fire until its bark thickens for sufficient insulation.

Fire Resistant, Not Fire-Proof

After longleaf reaches 8 feet in height and about 2 inches in diameter at ground level, it becomes very robust and resistant to fire damage. On mature trees, thick plates of bark protect the inner wood from surface fires. Lower pine limbs are thermally pruned, keeping the canopy above most flame heights. Once established, longleaf needle litter promotes subsequent fires by providing fine fuels to carry fire across the forest floor. Of course, no tree is fire-proof, and longleaf pines are susceptible to fire injury during certain life-stages and when stressed by other environmental conditions (like drought, pests, or disease).

A Fire Forest

Longleaf pines are just one species in southeastern ecosystems adapted to frequent, low-intensity fires. Plants and wildlife alike utilize different strategies to survive and thrive in regularly burned habitats. See this response in action in the Perennial Forest Story - a visual journey of one forest following a prescribed fire.

BROWSE THIS SECTION

  • The Tree
    • Life Stages
    • The Economics
    • The History
    • The Misconceptions
  • The Ecosystem
    • Built by Fire
    • Habitats
    • Species Diversity
  • Restoration & Management
    • Groundcover Restoration
    • Herbicides
    • Longleaf Regeneration
    • Prescribed Fire
  • Photo Gallery

From our feed

We measure longleaf restoration success not just i We measure longleaf restoration success not just in the number of longleaf pine trees planted or longleaf acres gained but also in how well we manage longleaf to promote a healthy ecosystem. Prescribed fire is the most effective tool to achieve those goals. In 2024, longleaf partners set a new record – applying prescribed fire to 2,290,436 acres! This was a half million increase compared to 2023. Most of the reported burn acreage occurred on public lands, but about 30% of the increase comes from private lands.This achievement contributes to the remarkable 20+ million acres of prescribed fire implemented across the Southeast since 2010.Check out the full 2024 Accomplishment Report from America's Longleaf > longleafalliance.org > news (link in bio)
Feelin’ pine in RED, WHITE, and BLUE! The charac Feelin’ pine in RED, WHITE, and BLUE! The characteristic green needles of #longleaf are not the only eye-catching colors of this iconic tree. 🔴 Reddish bark: Its thick, fire-resistant bark has a warm, rusty hue.⚪ White candles: New growth emerges from the needle cluster, resembling a white candle, before new green needles emerge. 🔵 Bluish pollen: Male pollen cones (strobili) are blue-ish/purple when mature.Longleaf brings natural color to the landscape and supports a whole host of dazzling native species. Nature’s fireworks are truly something to celebrate! 📷Photos by Karen Zilliox Brown, Ryan Bollinger, and Sarah Crate #LongleafPine #RedWhiteAndBlue #NaturesFireworks
Longleaf-ers (yes, that includes YOU!) are making Longleaf-ers (yes, that includes YOU!) are making a big progress to restore, conserve, and maintain critical longleaf pine habitat.In 2024, partners reported 2.7 million acres of accomplishments, including:🌲Gained 105,568 acres of longleaf through planting and silviculture practices🔥Applied prescribed fire to 2.2 million acres - a RECORD for the 4th year in a row!!!🌎Protected 49,337 acres through acquisitions and easementsThe full report is available at longleafalliance.org > news (link in bio)
Biodiversity Credits for Longleaf Landowners July Biodiversity Credits for Longleaf LandownersJuly 9, 2025 | Virtual WebinarJoin The Longleaf Alliance and Milliken Advisors to learn about the emerging biodiversity credit market and how it may benefit your land and generate revenue opportunities.This virtual webinar will discuss:+ how biodiversity credits work+ how they fit into long-term management goals+ current market developmentsRegister Via Zoom (link in bio).

Conservation partners

PCA

PCA

RMS

RMS

Whitfield

Whitfield

Bartlett

Bartlett

Enviva

Enviva

Norfolk Southern

Norfolk Southern

advantage

advantage

Blanton

Blanton

Drax

Drax

Fram

Fram

IFCO

IFCO

Kronospan

Kronospan

Manulife

Manulife

McLeod Rhodes

McLeod Rhodes

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