flatwoods

Flatwoods are a plant community of flat, sandy terrain on the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains of the southeastern United States. They typically feature an open pine canopy over a diverse herbaceous layer, with some seasonal wetlands and seeps creating a mosaic of dry and wet patches. The distribution extends from the southern Atlantic states through Florida, across Alabama and Mississippi, into eastern Louisiana and eastern Texas, with extensive examples in Florida and the Carolinas.

The canopy is usually dominated by longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) and slash pine (Pinus elliottii), with occasional loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). The understory includes shrubs such as saw palmetto and gallberry, with a ground layer of grasses like wiregrass (Aristida beyrichiana), muhly grasses, and various forbs. Soils are often nutrient-poor, and fire plays a central role in maintaining the structure by keeping the area open and limiting hardwood encroachment.

Fire is a defining feature of flatwoods ecology. Historically, frequent low-intensity fires—every 2 to 5 years in many stands—help regenerate longleaf pine and maintain herbaceous ground cover. Fire suppression and land-use changes have led to woody encroachment, wetland drainage, and conversion in some areas, reducing the extent of open, pine-dominated stands.

Flatwoods provide habitat for a range of wildlife, including the gopher tortoise, gopher frog, various quail species, and many migratory birds. In parts of the region, longleaf pine stands support threatened species such as the red-cockaded woodpecker. Conservation efforts emphasize restoring fire regimes, reestablishing longleaf pine, and managing hydrology and invasions through prescribed burning and habitat restoration.