Longleaf Pine (Heart Pine)
Pinus palustris · softwood · Southeastern US · moderate movement
- Janka hardness 870 lbfred oak ≈ 1,290 lbf
- Density ≈ 41 lb/ft³specific gravity 0.59 at 12% MC
- Shrinkage — tangential 7.5%flatsawn width, green → ovendry
- Shrinkage — radial 5.1%quartersawn width
- T/R ratio 1.5 : 1higher = more cupping in flatsawn stock
Shop notes Old-growth "heart pine" from reclaimed beams is amber, hard, and resin-perfumed — treat reclaimed stock like a hardwood and watch for grit in the grain.
Seasonal movement at a glance
Width change for longleaf pine (heart pine) across a typical indoor year — 6% moisture content in the heated winter to 12% in a humid summer:
| Board width | Flatsawn | Quartersawn |
|---|---|---|
| 6″ | 3/32″ (0.096″) | 1/16″ (0.066″) |
| 12″ | 3/16″ (0.193″) | 1/8″ (0.131″) |
| 24″ | 3/8″ (0.386″) | 1/4″ (0.262″) |
| 36″ | 19/32″ (0.579″) | 13/32″ (0.393″) |
Run your own numbers
Different width, different climate swing — the calculator below is preset to longleaf pine (heart pine):
Typical swings:
Longleaf Pine (Heart Pine) questions
How much does longleaf pine (heart pine) move with the seasons?
A 12″-wide flatsawn longleaf pine (heart pine) board moves about 3/16″ across a typical indoor swing from 6% to 12% moisture content; quartersawn, about 1/8″. Its tangential shrinkage is 7.5% and radial 5.1% (green to ovendry) — a moderate-movement wood.
How hard is longleaf pine (heart pine)?
Longleaf Pine (Heart Pine) rates about 870 lbf on the Janka scale — softer than red oak but sturdy (red oak is roughly 1,290 lbf). Density runs about 41 lb/ft³ at indoor moisture levels.
Is longleaf pine (heart pine) good for wide panels and tabletops?
Yes, with normal precautions: its 1.5:1 tangential-to-radial ratio is unusually balanced, so panels stay flatter than most. Still fasten solid tops so they can move across their width.
Similar species
Eastern Redcedar (Aromatic) · Western Larch · Slash Pine · Port-Orford-Cedar · Loblolly Pine (Southern Yellow) · Shortleaf Pine
Shrinkage, specific gravity, and hardness from the Wood Handbook, FPL-GTR-282 (2021 edition), USDA Forest Products Laboratory (public domain). Values are species averages — individual boards vary with growth conditions and how they were dried.