Slash pine is naturally found in wet flatwoods, swampy areas, and shallow pond edges. It can also occur in the low sandy soils that are poor in nutrients. It is very aggressive and commonly occupies cutover lands formerly occupied by other species. 

Slash pine (Pinus elliottii var. elliottii) is found in the Coastal Plain through north and central Florida. Southern slash pine (Pinus elliottii var. densa) is found in south Florida, West Indies, Guatemala, and Honduras in Central America.