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The Tree

HomeWhat is Longleaf?The TreeThe Misconceptions

The Misconceptions

Myth: It is too difficult to get longleaf pine to survive by artificial regeneration.

Fact: With better seedlings, better planting techniques, and a better understanding of the impact of competing vegetation on seedling growth, landowners today experience many planting successes. On cutover land, most landowners should achieve 90% survival or better!

Myth: Longleaf pine is a slow-grower.

Fact: If the time spent in the grass-stage is minimized, early growth of longleaf pine rivals that of other southern pine species in many cases. In fact, longleaf pine has the ability to make up for a slow start by more rapid growth later on. On some sites, longleaf pine may, in fact, grow faster than other pines.

Myth: Longleaf pine cannot economically compete with loblolly or slash pines.

Fact: Many lumber companies and landowners have made their living exclusively by growing longleaf pine. Many hunting plantations strive to achieve the appearance of open and park-like longleaf pine forests because it enhances the aesthetics of the hunt (translating into higher revenue). Current markets make longleaf management more attractive than ever.

Myth: Longleaf forests do not make good wildlife habitat due to the scarcity of oaks.

Fact: Longleaf forests and the ability to use fire within these forests provides ideal habitat for a whole suite of game and nongame wildlife.

Myth: You should not allow a longleaf forest to mature due to the potential of "infestation" by red-cockaded woodpeckers.

Fact #1: Today’s populations of red-cockaded woodpeckers are most often confined to large isolated public landholdings. The probability that a pair of red-cockaded woodpeckers (RCW) can successfully navigate the sea of open and urban land to find an individual landowner’s property is slim.

Fact #2: Provisions (like the Safe-Harbor agreement) are in place to help minimize the disincentive of managing a forest that would also make attractive red-cockaded woodpecker habitat.

Fact #3: Red-cockaded woodpeckers will become established in mature loblolly pine about a generation sooner than they would longleaf pine.

Fact #4: If woodpeckers were “easy to get,” they wouldn’t be on the Endangered Species List! Americans are spending thousands and even millions of dollars to try to establish woodpeckers deliberately, with mixed success. It is highly unlikely that a landowner who didn’t want RCWs would attract them.

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  • 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

If you are interested in financial assistance for If you are interested in financial assistance for #longleafpine seedlings for the 2025-2026 planting season, The Longleaf Alliance is accepting project requests until June 1st.Submission details and FAQs can be found at https://longleafalliance.org/longleaf-planting-funds/Note - Most funds are available to cover the cost of SEEDLINGS ONLY and submission does not guarantee funding.📷 The Longleaf Alliance works with multiple partners to provide #longleaf seedling funds to landowners. In fiscal year 2024, The Longleaf Alliance, planted 5.8 million longleaf pine seedlings on private and public lands in collaboration with restoration partners! #restorelongleaf #longleafpines [Photo by Fort Benning, Natural Resources Management Branch]
Are you a landowner looking for comprehensive trai Are you a landowner looking for comprehensive training on sustainable forestry management? Then we've got just the opportunity for you! 🌲The Longleaf and the Landowner is a two-day Academy geared toward new, beginning and small acreage landowners. Discussion topics will include economics, estate planning, forestry, and longleaf pine management.June 5–6, 2025 | 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Tuskegee, AlabamaRegister as a landowner or a professional at longleafalliance.org > upcoming events (link in bio). Landowner registration and lodging waivers are available upon request on a first-come, first-serve basis.The event is hosted by hosted by @TheLongleafAlliance – The Nature Conservancy's Chattahoochee Fall Line Conservation Longleaf Partnership – @NWF SE Forestry and @tuskegeeuniversity
Have you registered for TLA’s Spring Online Auct Have you registered for TLA’s Spring Online Auction beginning this Friday?Here’s a sneak peek of some of the items you can bid on: + 5 Nights at Marriott’s Crystal Shores Marco Island+ Longleaf artisan goods+ Recreational items for guaranteed summer fun+ Award-winning longleaf blendsRegister for FREE at betterunite.com (link in bio). Text notifications when you are outbid make it easy to follow along from anywhere all weekend long!The online auction is an important TLA fundraiser because it allows us to target strategic priorities and focus on Growing Awareness, Understanding Longleaf, Improving Forest Health, Conserving Diverse Habitats, and Expanding Ecosystems through strong community and partner ties.
Join The Longleaf Alliance in making EVERY day an Join The Longleaf Alliance in making EVERY day an Earth Day!Save-the-date for our Spring Online Auction on May 23rd-25th. With your help, TLA aspires to collect 50+ auction items to support on-the-ground longleaf restoration and conservation efforts!Please mark your calendars and help us by sharing and/or donating. If you have something to contribute, please email lynnsey@longleafalliance.org.

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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