I dont know where they got the name norway pine from because this is the native pine of western america. Ponderosa pine is considered one the most fire resistant conifers in the west, and fire resistance increases as the tree matures miller 2000. Needles dark green, to 25cm in length, mostly clustered at branch ends. One striking difference is with pines growing in southern arizona, sw new mexico and west texas. Loggers and oldtimers called it the yellow pine or western yellow pine. Foliage the needles of the ponderosa pine are in fascicles bundles of 3, sometimes 2. Ponderosa pine develops a protective outer corky bark 0. Jan 11, 2017 pinus ponderosa is one of the most widely distributed pines, with a range spanning 20 degrees of latitude and from the lowlands to 3,300 m a. Orange or yellow male cones, occur in small clusters at the tips of branches. Ponderosa pine lumber western wood products association. Douglas fir, hemlock, ponderosa pine, redwood, southern yellow pine. Rugged trees with a sweet smell sink your nose into the yellow bark of a ponderosa and take a big whiff.
Ponderosa pine tree displays seasonal discoloration. Most pine species appear naturally yellow, although they can appear beige at a glance. Ponderosa pine definition is a tall pine pinus ponderosa of western north america with long needles usually in groups of two or three. This tree has a cone shaped top and grows 30 to 50 meters tall. It can grow up to 100 feet tall in the landscape with a moderate to rapid growth rate. Learn about growing, propagating, and using western yellow pine tree. Arkansas soft pine was a trade name adopted by that states lumber manufacturers in 1916 to promote shortleaf pine pinus echinata of uniquely. In the southern us, yellow pine refers to a special group of trees known as the southern yellow pines, these are mostly longleaf pine, shortleaf pine, slash pine, and loblolly pine. Bean visits the largest unbroken stand of ponderosa pine trees in the world. To further confuse the situation the ponderosa and jeffrey pines occasionally hybridize. Ponderosa pine forests bandelier national monument u. Pinus ponderosa ponderosawestern yellow pine southern.
Checks medium surface checks not over 2 wide but over 4 long and not over 10 long. It may smell more like a dessert topping than a desert pine. Pinus taeda, pinus echinata, pinus elliottii, pinus pallustris best characteristics for identification. In the united kingdom, yellow pine refers to eastern white pine or scots pine. Pinus species, big pine, norway pine, ponderosa pine. Ponderosa pine is found in southern british columbia in the rolling hills and near the. It is the most widely distributed pine species in north america 4. The ponderosa pine is a large, straight trunked tree with a wide, open, irregularly cylindrical crown. In the western united states, yellow pine refers to jeffrey pine or ponderosa pine 4 in the southern united states, yellow pine refers to longleaf pine, shortleaf pine, slash pine, or loblolly pine. Clear finishes with uv blockers can help retain its freshlymilled color. This evergreen tree may get up to 165 feet tall and has a soaring straight trunk topped by a relatively small crown. The trees natural fragrance is compared to butterscotch or vanilla. Southern yellow pines typically have very wide growth rings and thick dense latewood compared to western yellow pines and red pine. Ponderosa pine pinus ponderosa is a north american pine discovered in 1826 by david douglas near spokane, washington.
Western yellow pines frequently are dimpled on the tangential face, especially lodgepole pine whereas the others are not dimpled. Although ponderosa pine is most common between 6,000 and 9,000 feet, it begins to appear on the landscape around 5,000 feet where prairies and shrublands transition into open ponderosa pine forests. The us state of montana has ponderosa pine as its official tree. The seeds of ponderosa pine are choice food of redwinged blackbirds, chickadees, mourning doves. Ponderosa pine is well suited to survive lowintensity surface fires primarily due to its bark characteristics. Yellow pine tends to have a bolder, more pronounced grain pattern than white. However, it is sometimes mixed with other species of similar design characteristics, such as ponderosa pine sugar pine, or ponderosa pine lodgepole pine. Ponderosa pine is one of the bestknown trees of the american west, and covers a more extensive area than any other american conebearing tree. Ponderosa pine pinus ponderosa general description a large tree native to southwestern north dakota that is pyramidal when young, becoming irregularlyoblong and opencrowned with age. Down the cascades and sierras into southern california. In southern california, jeffrey needles are usually dull bluegraygreen left. Jeffrey pine, pinus jeffreyi and ponderosa pine, p.
A typical cultivated ponderosa pine grows to around 60 feet tall with a branch spread of about 25 feet. Pinus ponderosa ponderosa pine, western yellow pine. The biogeography of the ponderosa pine pinus ponderosa. You may have also heard the western yellow pine called a ponderosa pine, a name given for the trees colossal size at maturity. The narrow to broad pyramidal crown on young trees flattens out on old trees with lower branch loss.
But whats a little surprising is some of the stuff that contains wood. Big heavy, black jack, bull pine, ponderosa white pine, sierra brown bark pine, silver pine, western pitch pine, western red pine, western yellow pine, yellow pine, yosemite pine. Ponderosa grows from mexico to british columbia, and from the pacific coast to south dakota. Pinus ponderosa belongs to the plantae kingdom, pinophyta division, pinopsida class, pinales order, and pinaceae family. Ponderosa pine is usually milled and shipped as a single species and can be specified and bought as such. Ponderosa pine or western yellow pine potted plants. Ponderosa pine the wood database lumber identification. Both kinds of wood are hard with a janka hardness of 550 pounds, but the western yellow pine wood is less dense than southern yellow pine wood 28 pounds cubic foot versus 35 pounds cubic foot for shortleaf pine. Ponderosa pine pinus ponderosa is one of the softtextured pines a group distinct from the southern yellow pines, which are heavier, harder and pitchier and have widely different values and uses. The city of flagstaff, arizona was named for a flagpole made of ponderosa pine that was used to raise a. Southern yellow pine grades northeast lumber sales.
Plywood, framing lumber, poles, log cabins general natural range. Differences between white and yellow pine wood hunker. What do i finish my pine boards with so they dont yellow. It is native to western north america, adapted to well drained soils in arizona and new mexico. Both the dry and green needles from the ponderosa pine tree can cause abortion in cows. The soft pine species of commercial importance in the united states, in addition to ponderosa pine, include idaho white pine, sugar pine and lodge. How did ponderosa pine get to be the end all of hive construction. Southern yellow pine is a great load bearing wood, perfect for construction projects.
Jeffrey pine wood and ponderosa pine wood are sold together as yellow pine. There are 10 species, all hard pines diploxylon hard needled members of the genus pinus see chart. While deer, elk and mountain sheep do not eat the needles unless other browse species are totally absent, they do feed on the understory species. White pine, with a density rating of only 380, is one of the lowestrated woods on the scale. Abundant in the northern rocky mountains and pacific coast region. Western yellow pine tree, or ponderosa pine tree, is a hearty specimen tree. It has dark graygreen, olive or yellow green needles. An evergreen, openbranched tree forming an open pyramid when young, becoming a shortconical head in age. If they had driven about an hour south, they could have seen the. It is the characteristic tree of the southern interior. In ecology and forestry, yellow pine refers to a number of conifer species which tend to grow in similar plant communities and yield similar strong wood.
Dec 26, 2012 the jeffrey pine pinus jeffreyi and the ponderosa pine pinus pinderosa look very similar. Ponderosa grow at elevations of 5,000 to 9,000 feet and can reach heights of 100 to 120 feet and 3 to 4 feet in diameter. Mostly for cold hardiness reasons, it has only sparingly been utilized in our urban landscapes and has never been documented naturalized in the state. Preventing pine from yellowing beyond its freshcut state is almost impossible, but common oilbased polyurethane can give finished pine a deep golden tone. Pinus ponderosa, or ponderosa pine, or western yellow pine, is native west of the western fringes of the great plains. Will tolerate a variety of harsh conditions including dry, stony soils. The bark on the young trees is blackish or dark redbrown and furrowed, and on mature trees yellow brown to. Yellowing pine needles normal in autumn colorado state forest. Pinus ponderosa, commonly known as the ponderosa pine, bull pine, blackjack pine, western yellow pine, or filipinus pine is a very large pine tree species of variable habitat native to mountainous regions of western north america.
The ponderosa pine is a hardy tree that is used extensively as timber. Armorcoat, armorcore, ashton lewis, limington lumber, bodyguard, southern cross black label. It is the most widely distributed pine species in north america. Sink your nose into the yellow bark of a ponderosa and take a big whiff. Using wood in your fencing or in a big project and wondering what the difference between yellow pine and white pine is. It is the toughest pine introduced to kansas with the greatest drought and alkaline tolerance. Ponderosa pine is a species of lean and erect coniferous trees distributed in the western us and canada. There are 10 species, all hard pines diploxylon hard needled members of the genus pinus see. Southern yellow pines identification of common north. Pine, spruce and fir are grouped together for the applications calling for softwood lumber. Ponderosa pine tree identification, facts, and pictures. A few common names for the species include yellow pine, western pine, and sierra redbark among many others. Jeffrey pine and ponderosa pine are both sold as yellow pine.
Planting ponderosa pine trees requires a big backyard. Variety ponderosa grows in the western united states and canada, from southern british columbia along the east slopes of the cascades, to the klamath mountains, to southern california. The difference in barb direction is visible in the pictures, both taken near manzanita lake in lassen volcanic national park. The largest tree in north dakota is 73 feet tall with a canopy spread of 26 feet. If painted while wet, the moisture may get trapped by the paint film and cause peeling. The ponderosa pine can grow in excess of 150 feet tall. Ponderosa pine is perhaps the most beloved of the western pines. The lower half of the straight trunk is bare, while the top half has branches with needles. While in the north and east its limits are defined. Ponderosa pine trees information about growing ponderosa. They are densely crowded on the small branches, rigid, yellowgreen, 310. American lumber stocks a wide variety of pine specialties, including eastern white pine, southern yellow pine, radiata pine, sugar pine, idaho white pine, and ponderosa pine. Ponderosa pine is the most widely distributed north american native pine. Lumber from all four species is marketed as southern pine and graded in accordance with the.
Ponderosa pines five races can be identified by their characteristic bright green needles. Southern pine grows in a wide geographic belt, stretching from east texas through virginia. Although ponderosa pine is technically classified as a yellow hard pine, it shares many characteristics with white soft pines, having a considerably lower density than the yellow pine species found in the eastern united states. Once these two trees were classified as the same species or some botanists considered the jeffrey pine a variety of the ponderosa pine. In the western united states, yellow pine refers to jeffrey pine or ponderosa pine. Pinus ponderosa ponderosawestern yellow pine southern woods.
Ponderosa pine has two or three needles in a bunch and yellow to redbrown bark. The name southern pine, or southern pine yellow pine, is representative of a group of four principal tree species. Probably the most widespread and damaging class of disease agents is dwarf mistletoe, which causes serious growth loss. This is one of the largest pines that grow anywhere in. Pinus ponderosa, commonly known as the ponderosa pine, bull pine, blackjack pine, western yellowpine, or filipinus pine is a very large pine tree species of variable habitat native to mountainous regions of western north america. The majestic pines are native to north america and are common across the united states in mountainous terrain and high plateaus. Excellent tall, narrow, inland shelter and timber on very dry sites. The information on this page is still correct, but ive learned a lot more about how to discriminate between these species in 2014. It is one of the most abundant conifer species in america and is valued for its ruggedlooking and resilient timber as well as for recreational use.
Habitat ponderosa pine occurs on a variety of soils, from extremely dry to welldrained, relatively. Ponderosa pines are large trees native to the rocky mountain region of north america. It is also marketed under the name white woods, which can include a mix. Ponderosa pine information caring for ponderosa pine trees. Very dense obvious latewood with an abrupt transition, typically wide growth rings, resin pockets on the tangential and radial faces, resinous odor. If you dont find an answer to your question on our site or in these faqs, refer to these helpful links. The four principal species loblolly, shortleaf, longleaf and slash make up 90% of the southern pine timber inventory and are referred to commercially as southern pine or southern yellow pine.
Ponderosa pine is a rapid growing tree with the ability to firmly anchor into most soil types. This huge evergreen displays dark yellow green bundles of needles and is adorned with reddishbrown pinecones 36 in length with sharp teeth. Ponderosa pine is well adapted to high temperatures and low moisture and is highly resistant to lowintensity fire. He chose the word ponderosa, meaning ponderous or heavy, because. The best way to tell if a wood is a hardwood or softwood is to look at the. Ponderosa pine is the most widely distributed pine species in the lower 48 states, however minnesota sits well east of its natural western geographic range. Where and when it grows ponderosa pine grows in all of the states west of the great plains and in western canada. Trees are stable and generally windfirm with little danger of top breakage.
On nov, 2004, 433kfj from klamath falls, or zone 6a wrote. In 1953, around 145 ponderosa trees were transported and planted in area 5 to study the effects of exposure to the nuclear blast during the operation upshotknothole. Yellowing pine needles every autumn, many colorado evergreens shed some of their. Ponderosa pine definition of ponderosa pine by merriamwebster. Discussion in general beekeeping started by jponder, may 23, 2011. Yellow pine has a density rating of about 870 on the janka scale, which ranks it up there with cedar at 900.
Also the species most commonly pressure treated flatsawn southern yellow pine in the eastern united states and douglas fir and ponderosa pine in the westdo not hold paint well to begin with. Loblolly pine, shortleaf pine, slash pine, longleaf pine, etc. It can be found from the mountain forests of the west from british colombia and south to texas and mexico. Filip2 abstract several diseases affect the growth and survival of ponderosa pine in the pacific northwest and serve as agents of disturbance. Those along the coast are commonly called shore pine. Ponderosa pine trees information about growing ponderosa pines.
This difference is most apparent in full sunlight with the sun behind you. Probably the most widespread and damaging class of disease agents is dwarf mistletoe, which causes serious growth loss and mortality of ponderosa pine. Here are answers to some of the more frequently asked questions about southern pine. Yukon territory south through british columbia and alberta. Pine is one of the most common woods used in american homes. Fire ecology of ponderosa pine and the rebuilding of fire. The ponderosa pine pinus ponderosa is a monster tree easily recognizable in the natural vista. In the southern rockies it grows in sunny and fairly dry locations. Pinus contorta, pinus pondersoa best characteristics for identification. Feb 01, 2016 ponderosa pine pinus ponderosa dougs plant world. How to prepare a wood surface for exterior paints or stains. In the western us, yellow pine refers to jeffrey pine or ponderosa pine.
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