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Pinus ponderosa
Ponderosa Pine
Western North America — British Columbia to the Great Plains, south to Mexico; 500-9,000 feet (150-2,700 m); dry montane forests
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Overview
Pinus ponderosa is ponderosa pine (western yellow pine), an upright evergreen coniferous tree growing 60-100 feet (18-30 m) tall and 25-35 feet (7.6-10.7 m) wide. Yellow-green to dark green stiff needles in fascicles of 3 (sometimes 2), 5-10 inches (13-25 cm), in dense tufts at branch tips. In Pinaceae. Ponderosa = heavy/ponderous. The largest pine in western North America. A 3-needle pine (subgenus Pinus). Thick bark (3-6 inches / 7-15 cm on mature trees) is fire-resistant. Mature bark develops orange-cinnamon jigsaw-puzzle pattern and smells of butterscotch or vanilla when warmed. Prickly ovoid cones 3-6 inches (7-15 cm). Native from British Columbia to the Great Plains at 500-9,000 feet (150-2,700 m). Western pine beetle is the primary mortality agent. The massive mature size (60-100 feet / 18-30 m) is unsuitable for small residential lots. Non-toxic. Deer-resistant. Zones 3-8. Full sun. Growth rate is moderate to fast.
Native Range
Native to western North America — British Columbia to the Great Plains, south to Mexico. Found in dry montane forests at 500-9,000 feet (150-2,700 m).Suggested Uses
Grown as a native specimen tree, windbreak, and reforestation species in dry western landscapes, spaced 25-35 feet (7.6-10.7 m). Massive mature size — not suited for small lots. Butterscotch bark fragrance. Non-toxic. Not suitable for containers. Zones 3-8.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height60' - 100'
Width/Spread25' - 35'
Reaches mature size in approximately 30 years
Bloom Information
Not applicable — conifer. Monoecious. Yellow male strobili clustered at base of new shoots and small reddish-purple female cones at branch tips in April-June. Prickly ovoid cones 3-6 inches (7-15 cm), brown, mature in two years.Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
Yellow-green to dark green, needles in fascicles of 2-3 (predominantly 3), 5-10 inches (13-25 cm), stiff, bundled in dense tufts at branch tips; among the longest needles of any western pineGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight