Southern Yellow Pine

Durability:

The general strength properties of P. palustris and P. elliottii compare closely with those of 'Douglas fir'.

Mechanical Properties:

The sapwood is narrow in the better grades, sometimes up to 50mm wide, lighter in colour than the heartwood which is yellowish-brown to reddish-brown. Both species are typical of the hard-pine class, being resinous, with the growth-rings usually well-marked by the contrast between the light-coloured early-wood, and the dense, darker-coloured late-wood, which produces a rather coarse texture in the wood, especially in fairly rapidly grown material with its wide growth-rings. The timbers weigh about 670 kg/m³ on average when dried. The lower density material of P. palustris and P. elliottii together with other species termed southern yellow pine, is lighter in weight, coarser in texture, inferior in strength, and usually has a wider sapwood, sometimes as wide as 1 50mm.

Seasoning:

All these species dry well with little degrade.

Uses:

  • Heavy structural use
  • Exterior joinery
  • Interior joinery
  • Southern Yellow Pine is also used in the manufacturing of trusses and other construction framing, modular home and deck construction, and in pallets, crating, and other packaging
Get in Touch

Description

The sapwood is narrow in the better grades, sometimes up to 50mm wide, lighter in colour than the heartwood which is yellowish-brown to reddish-brown. Both species are typical of the hard-pine class, being resinous, with the growth-rings usually well-marked by the contrast between the light-coloured early-wood, and the dense, darker-coloured late-wood, which produces a rather coarse texture in the wood, especially in fairly rapidly grown material with its wide growth-rings. The timbers weigh about 670 kg/m³ on average when dried. The lower density material of P. palustris and P. elliottii together with other species termed southern yellow pine, is lighter in weight, coarser in texture, inferior in strength, and usually has a wider sapwood, sometimes as wide as 150mm.

Additional information

Latin Name

Pinus elliottii

Family Name

Pinaceae

Distribution

P. elliottii occurs in the same area but is more restricted, ranging from South Carolina to Florida and along the Gulf to eastern Louisiana

Also know as

American pitch pine, Gulf Coast pitch pine, long leaf pitch pine (UK, USA), southern pine (USA), long leaf pine, short leaf pine, loblolly pine.

Timber you may like

  • Western Red Cedar

    Western Red Cedar is straight grained, rather coarse textured, with a prominent growth ring figure and non-resinous. The timber's heartwood shows considerable colour variation when fresh, from a dark chocolate-brown to a salmon pink colour, perhaps variegated, maturing down to a reddish-brown and, in time, to silver-grey – this weathered appearance sometimes sought-after by architects. Weight is 370 kg/m³ (23 lb/ft³); specific gravity .37.

  • Siberian Larch

    The resinous heartwood is pale red-brown to brick red in colour, with clearly marked annual rings. The wood is straight grained, contains knots, and has a fine uniform texture. Weight about 590 kg/m³ (37 lb/ft³); specific gravity .59.

  • Alaskan Yellow Cedar

    Heartwood is a light yellow. Sapwood is a similar whitish/pale yellow maturing down to a reddish-brown and, in time, to silver-grey. Weight 495kg/m3

  • Douglas Fir

    Douglas Fir's heartwood is a light reddish-brown shade, and the contrast between earlywood and latewood provides a prominent growth ring figure which shows as an abrupt colour contrast on plain sawn timber and rotary cut veneers. The timber is straight grained but sometimes with wavy or spiral grain and with a uniform medium texture. Weight 530 kg/m³ (33 lb/ft³); specific gravity .53.