[7] Table Mountain pine typically has long, thick limbs on much of the trunk even in closed canopy stands.

Its range extends from central Pennsylvania, southwest to eastern West Virginia and southward into North Carolina, Tennessee, and the extreme northeast corner of Georgia.

[8] There are outlying populations of Pinus pungens to the east of the Appalachians in the piedmont often on isolated peaks and monadnocks[9] Pinus pungens prefers dry conditions and is mostly found on rocky slopes and peaks, favoring higher elevations averaging of ~300-1700 meters.

It commonly grows as single scattered trees or small groves, not in large forests like most other pines, and needs periodic disturbances for seedling establishment.

Throughout the Appalachian Mountain range, P. pungens is a component of conifer-dominated communities along combination with other pine species.

[6][11] One major adaptation of Pinus pungens to fire are the long dormant serotinous cones that open and spread seeds after high heat exposure.

[14] [6] This can be seen in areas of the Chattahoochee National Forest, Georgia where large Table Mountain pines have not regenerated due to lack of needed conditions to rejuvenate both the soil and trees.