Climatically Suitable Growth Areas for the Pinus elliottii x caribaea hybrid

Hybridisation is undertaken among and within pine species with the aim of discovering and developing high-yielding varieties with suitable wood properties, in order to match the hybrids to appropriate sites for commercial production (Nikles, 2000). The Pinus elliottii x caribaea hybrid is proving important in South Africa because P. elliottii and P. caribaea have complementary traits. P. elliottii is straighter, more wind-firm and tolerant of poorly drained soils while P. caribaea, being native to the tropics and sub-tropics of South and Central America, has faster growth, superior branch quality and more uniform wood (Nikles, 2000).This hybrid, as may be seen from its matrix of climatically optimum and sub-optimum growth areas, has been cloned for growth in areas with high temperatures.The accompanying map shows that Pinus ExC grows optimally in the coastal areas of the Eastern Cape, much of eastern KwaZulu-Natal, western Swaziland and eastern Mpumalanga, wherever MAT > 16 degree Celsius.