Pinus ponderosa
Ponderosa Pine, Western Yellow Pine
Pinaceae
ExpandHabitat
- native to western North America
- hardy to zone 3
Habit and Form
- an evergreen tree
- narrow, upright, oval form in youth opens up into an irregular crown
- 50' to 80' tall
- 30' wide
- fine to medium texture
- fast growth rate
Summer Foliage
- evergreen, simple needles
- needles in 3's
- 8" to 10" long
- light green needle color
- minutely serrated margins
- sharply pointed apex
Autumn Foliage
- same as summer foliage
Flowers
- purple male flowers
- red female flowers
- bloom in late March
- not ornamentally important
Fruit
- oval cone
- 4" long
- reddish brown in color persist
- showy
- often paired
Bark
- thick, fire resistant bark
- yellowish brown twigs
- brownish black furrowed mature bark
- vanilla scent when bruised
Culture
- full sun is best
- prefers well-drained, acidic, deep, moist soil
- drought tolerant
- transplant B&B
- salt tolerant
Landscape Uses
- lumber
- windbreaker
- specimen
- highway buffer
- mass plantings
Liabilities
- needle cast
- bark beetle
- pitch canker
ID Features
- needles in 3's
- oblong bud with appressed resinous scales
- reddish brown buds
- minutely serrated and sharply pointed needles
- vanilla scent to stems when bruised
Propagation
- by seed
Cultivars/Varieties
- none