If it's not wet, they'll do well. There's a flood plain a couple miles away from here that's getting colonized by VA pines (and some pitch pines). That soil drains OK (sandstone-based), but the water table is quite high.

Yeah I think the water table is fairly high here too, but it doesn't stand unless there's a record amount of rainfall during the winter. There's actually a slope near this particular area to drain the water away. How tall does P.virginiana get when open grown?

Try Pond Pine Pinus serotina instead

Resin

i dont think you are allowed to plant Virginia pine in Alabama ...

it just aint right ...

ken

cant believe i found someone who sells resins suggestion:
http://www.tnnursery.net/search.php?search_query=Pinus+serotina&x=16&y=0

Here is a link that might be useful: scroll down the page for how big the Va get ...

This is really what I had in mind. Just not sure how long they stay low branched like that.

Here is a link that might be useful: ForestryImages

alabama, the pic you show look exactly like the ones nearby.

I've also seen some older open-grown ones that spread out into almost oak-like form, but that takes decades. Other open-grown ones continue to maintain a central leader.

I planted about 400 of them in north Louisiana over 40 yrs ago. My father had plans to sell them as Christmas trees. About 10 yrs later he had me go cut the survivors down. They did not do well there. If we pruned them at all, the pine bugs in the area were instantly attracted to them (Shortleaf and Loblolly native there) and they died withing 6-8 weeks of being pruned, every single time. I left one or two and never touched them, they were still alive 2-3 yrs ago, maybe 35' high. Next trip back will go check in on them. If you plant them, do report back on how it went.

alabama, after reading scotjute's reply, a more native pine might be better in south AL, unless yours were sourced from the extreme SW of its range (~central AL).

Scot, I wonder if pruning them into a Christmas tree really stresses them? Pine beetles are attracted to stressed trees.

alabama, believe the trimming did stress them. As I said there were the two I left that were still alive as of ~3 yrs or so ago. It may be that just living there stressed them. If it were me, I'd plant shortleaf pine if I wanted pine with short needles down south. Let us know what happens. Might check with the Lovett Pinetum to see if they have planted Viringia Pines and what if any luck did they have.