Pinus scopulorum
Rocky Mountains Ponderosa Pine
Rocky Mountains and western high plains
Overview
Pinus scopulorum is a large evergreen conifer, the Rocky Mountain form of ponderosa pine, reaching 60-100 feet (18-30 m) tall with a straight trunk and an open, irregular crown. The needles are 3-6 inches (8-15 cm) long, dark yellow-green, and held mostly in bundles of two to three at the branch tips, giving a tufted look. Mature bark breaks into broad, flat, orange-brown plates separated by black furrows, often with a faint vanilla or butterscotch scent in warm sun. Woody seed cones are 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) long, egg-shaped, and tipped with a small outward-curving prickle on each scale; pollen cones are smaller and shed yellow pollen in spring. P. scopulorum grows more slowly and stays shorter than the Pacific forms of ponderosa pine, with shorter needles and smaller cones suited to colder, drier mountain climates. It is native to the Rocky Mountains and adjacent plains, forming open woodlands on dry slopes. The tree is drought- and cold-hardy but slow to establish and prone to bark beetle attack during prolonged drought. Lower branches self-prune as the canopy lifts with age.
Native Range
Pinus scopulorum is native to the Rocky Mountains and adjacent high plains of western North America, from southern Canada through the United States into northern Mexico. It grows on dry foothills, mesas, and lower mountain slopes.Suggested Uses
Pinus scopulorum is used as a large specimen and shade tree, in windbreaks, and in reforestation across the Rocky Mountain region. Its open crown and orange bark give year-round structure in large landscapes and parks. The seeds and cover feed birds, squirrels, and other wildlife.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height60' - 100'
Width/Spread20' - 30'
Reaches mature size in approximately 30 years
Bloom Information
As a conifer, this pine produces cones rather than flowers. Yellow pollen cones shed pollen in late spring, roughly May to June, while small reddish seed cones are wind-pollinated and take two years to ripen. Mature woody cones open and release winged seeds in fall.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
dark yellow-greenGrowing 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