Wood Species Guide
Sand Pine
Pinus clausa
Also called: Scrub Pine, Spruce Pine (local Florida name), Choctawhatchee Sand Pine, Ocala Sand Pine
About the name “Sand Pine”
Some older Florida references call sand pine "spruce pine," but the tree usually sold as spruce pine is Pinus glabra. Sand pine lumber, when it is cut, is usually mixed into southern yellow pine.
What Sand Pine looks like
Heartwood is a light orange to reddish brown and the sapwood is pale yellow. Pieces are often knotty because the trees branch low.
Grain and texture
Straight to slightly wavy grain with a medium texture and fairly distinct growth rings.
Working Sand Pine: planing, cutting and gluing
Works like the other southern pines: easy to cut, but resin can gum up blades and sandpaper. Small, knotty trees mean short, narrow boards, and knots can chip out on the planer.
Finishing Sand Pine: oil, film finishes and epoxy
Seal knots and pitch with dewaxed shellac before a film finish. Stain blotches, so use a conditioner or gel stain. For epoxy, use fully dried wood and a seal coat, since resinous pine can bubble and weaken adhesion.
Durability, stability and Florida humidity
Low decay resistance, and Florida termites will attack it. Indoors and dry it is stable enough for small projects. Dry small pieces slowly to limit checking.
Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop
Sand pine is a real Florida native from the scrub ridges of the Panhandle and central Florida, including the Ocala National Forest. It rarely makes furniture lumber because the trees are small and knotty, but storm-downed trees can give character pieces, turning stock and rustic shelves. Ask us about Florida pines; we can often point you to the right local source.
Common uses for Sand Pine
Pulpwood, plywood, small construction lumber and rustic projects; mixed in with southern yellow pine.
Sustainability and CITES status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices. Listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. Florida scrub habitat has been heavily cleared, so sand pine scrub is a conservation priority.
Safety and toxicity
- Skin irritation
- Respiratory / asthma
- Sensitizer (allergy builds with exposure)
Few reports for sand pine itself. It is a resinous southern pine, so expect the same skin and airway irritation and resin allergy risk as other hard pines.
- In the shop
- Dust collection + mask or respirator when sanding; gloves for pitchy wood
- Food contact
- Not recommended for cutting boards, bowls and utensils
General information, not medical advice. See a doctor if you have a reaction.
Pine dust and resin can irritate skin and airways, and pine rosin is a known contact allergen. Use dust collection and a mask or respirator when sanding.
Sand Pine in stock now
Ask us. We can often source it.
We don't have Sand Pine listed online right now, but new slabs and lumber come in all the time and not everything makes it to the website. Tell us what you're building and we'll check our racks and suppliers.
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