It is an evergreen tree reaching 25–45 metres (82–148 feet) in height, with a broad, rounded crown of long branches.

[5] In the 1970s and 80s, the Pinewood nematode from North America and pine-needle scale insect from Taiwan, together virtually eliminated the native Pinus massoniana in Hong Kong.

[6] A fossil seed cone and several needles of Pinus massoniana have been described from the upper Miocene Wenshan flora, Yunnan, SW China.

[7] The species is a common tree used in plantation forestry for replacing or compensating for the loss of the natural forest in southern China.

Leaves are used to give special smoke flavor to a local black tea, such as Lapsang souchong of Fujian.