Loblolly pine, also called Arkansas pine, North Carolina pine, or oldfield pine, is the most important commercial timber in the southeastern United States. Over 50% of the standing pine in the southeast is loblolly. The species name, taeda, comes from the Latin word for torch of resinous wood.

Loblolly pine is found throughout much of the southeastern United States from New Jersey to central Florida and west into Tennessee, Kentucky, Texas, and Oklahoma. It grows primarily in coastal plains and some Piedmont regions.

This is an easily-seeded, fast-growing member of the yellow pine group and is an

aggressive invader in fallow fields. It is widely grown in plantations for commercial timber production, but also has been planted to help stabilize soil and reduce erosion or as a noise and wind barrier. Loblolly has also been planted in mine reclamation areas and due to its high litter and biomass productivity, loblolly pine is being studied as a possible alternative source for energy.

The wood, which is marketed as southern yellow pine, is primarily used for pulp and paper but also for lumber and plywood. It may be sold interchangeably with shortleaf pine.

Loblolly pine stands are important for numerous wildlife species. The trees provide habitat for many animals, including white-tailed deer, wild turkey, gray squirrels, rabbit, quail, and doves. Many songbirds feed on the seeds and help propagate the trees through seed dispersal. Red crossbills depend on loblolly pine seeds for up to 50% of their diet. Other birds who frequent the trees  include pine warblers, Bachman's warblers, and brown-headed nuthatches. Osprey and baldeagles often nest in tall loblolly pines.

Two endangered species that also use these pines are fox squirrels, who eat the cones, and red-cockaded woodpeckers, who will sometimes nest in old growth trees.

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