Pinus ponderosa

Ponderosa pines are excellent for erosion control, and are one of the best evergreens for windbreaks. Their wood is used for fuel, and their root extract is used to make a blue dye. Additionally, their pitch is used on whistles and flutes to improve the instrument’s tone, and to make turpentine. This species is the most widely distributed and common pine in North America. Ponderosa pines are adapted to frequent, low-intensity fires, and are used to investigate past fire history. The oldest known specimen is 929 years old.
Photo Credit: © USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database/Herman, D.E., et al. 1996. North Dakota tree handbook. USDA NRCS ND State Soil Conservation Committee; NDSU Extension and Western Area Power Administration, Bismarck.
Pinus ponderosa
Common Name: ponderosa pine
Plant Functional Group: Pine
Class > Order > Family: Pinopsida > Pinales > Pinaceae
What does the species look like?

Ponderosa pine is an evergreen conifer tree growing 60 to 100 feet tall. Male and female cones occur on the same tree; the small, male cones bear the pollen; the large, female cones are woody when mature, which takes two years. Pollination occurs by wind.

Ponderosa pine grows on a wide variety of soils. It is well adapted to grow on bare rock, hot, dry sites and in very cold winters. It is found on gentle to steep mountain slopes, ridgetops, and mesas. Its distribution on drier sites is related closely to supplies of available soil moisture which, in turn, are related to soil textures and depth. It is also drought tolerant.
Where is the species found?
States & Provinces
AZ, BC, CA, CO, ID, MT, ND, NE, NM, NV, OK, OR, SD, TX, UT, WA, WY
Which phenophases should I observe?
Do you see...?
Needles Emerging needles
One or more emerging needles or needle bundles (fascicles) are visible on the plant. A needle or needle bundle is considered "emerging" once the green tip is visible along the newly developing stem (candle), but before the needles have begun to unfold and spread away at an angle from others in the bundle.
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How many needle bundles are emerging?

  • Less than 3
  • 3 to 10
  • 11 to 100
  • 101 to 1,000
  • 1,001 to 10,000
  • More than 10,000
Young needles
One or more young, unfolded needles are visible on the plant. A needle is considered "young" and "unfolded" once it begins to spread away at an angle from other needles in the bundle (and is no longer pressed flat against them), but before it has reached full size or turned the darker green color or tougher texture of mature needles on the plant.

How many bundles with young needles are present?

  • Less than 3
  • 3 to 10
  • 11 to 100
  • 101 to 1,000
  • 1,001 to 10,000
  • More than 10,000
Pollen cones Pollen cones
One or more fresh, male pollen cones (strobili) are visible on the plant. Cones have overlapping scales that are initially tightly closed, then spread apart to open the cone and release pollen. Include cones that are unopened or open, but do not include wilted or dried cones that have already released all of their pollen.
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How many fresh pollen cones are present?

  • Less than 3
  • 3 to 10
  • 11 to 100
  • 101 to 1,000
  • 1,001 to 10,000
  • More than 10,000
Open pollen cones
One or more open, fresh, male pollen cones (strobili) are visible on the plant. Cones are considered "open" when the scales have spread apart to release pollen. Do not include wilted or dried cones that have already released all of their pollen.

What percentage of all fresh pollen cones (unopened plus open) on the plant are open?

  • Less than 5%
  • 5-24%
  • 25-49%
  • 50-74%
  • 75-94%
  • 95% or more
Pollen release
One or more male cones (strobili) on the plant release visible pollen grains when gently shaken or blown into your palm or onto a dark surface.
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How much pollen is released?

  • Little: Only a few grains are released.
  • Some: Many grains are released.
  • Lots: A layer of pollen covers your palm, or a cloud of pollen can be seen in the air when the wind blows

Seed cones Unripe seed cones
One or more unripe, female seed cones are visible on the plant. For Pinus ponderosa, an unripe seed cone is green or brown with scales closed together.
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How many seed cones are unripe?

  • Less than 3
  • 3 to 10
  • 11 to 100
  • 101 to 1,000
  • 1,001 to 10,000
  • More than 10,000
Ripe seed cones
One or more ripe, female seed cones are visible on the plant. For Pinus ponderosa, a seed cone is considered ripe when it has turned reddish-brown or brown and the scales have begun to spread apart to expose the seeds inside. Do not include empty cones that have already dropped all of their seeds.
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How many seed cones are ripe?

  • Less than 3
  • 3 to 10
  • 11 to 100
  • 101 to 1,000
  • 1,001 to 10,000
  • More than 10,000
Recent cone or seed drop
One or more seed cones or seeds have dropped or been removed from the plant since your last visit. Do not include empty seed cones that had long ago dropped all of their seeds but remained on the plant.
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How many seed cones have dropped seeds or have completely dropped or been removed from the plant since your last visit?

  • Less than 3
  • 3 to 10
  • 11 to 100
  • 101 to 1,000
  • 1,001 to 10,000
  • More than 10,000
What do these phenophases look like?

There is currently no photoguide available for this species. If you'd like help us create one, use the guidance document and species template provided here. Then send it via email to education@usanpn.org when it is complete.

USDA PLANTS profile for ponderosa pine (USDA Symbol: PIPO )