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Owing its namesake to having the longest needles of all southern pines, longleaf pine needles usually range from 7 to 18 inches in length (though longer needles have been found). The needles are grouped in threes and arranged in tufts on the end of branches. When viewed from below, these tufts look similar to a starburst. Needles persist for approximately 2 growing seasons before being rotated out by a group of younger needles.
High in natural volatile chemicals, longleaf pine needles are slow to decay once they fall to the forest floor. However, frequent fires throughout the woods easily ignite the dead needles and clean the forest floor of pine needles and other debris.
Needles were frequently used by Native Americans and early
settlers to weave into baskets. Today, because of their pleasing color
and length many longleaf pine needles are gathered and used as a garden
mulch (called "pine straw"). 