ponderosa pine
Pinus ponderosa

Ponderosa pine, with a range from southern Canada to Mexico, is one of the most widely distributed pines in North America. It is an important timber tree, as well as a common component of forests serving wildlife and recreational purposes. Ponderosa pine needles are 5 to 10 inches long, and typically occur in bundles of 3.

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Light Water
Growth   Size
Timber Value

      Ponderosa pine is used for light framing materials, doors, windows, furniture, paneling, shelving, etc.
Wildlife Value
      Abert's and Kaibib squirrels commonly depend on ponderosa pine forests. Numerous birds and small mammals eat the seeds and stem tissue.
          Attracts: squirrels, voles, chipmunks, gophers, mule deer, elk, various birds.
Regeneration methods
      Ponderosa pine is shade intolerant and commonly regenerated by clearcutting. Large group selections are feasible when western larch is a predominant associate.
Important Problems Early Detection tips
various bark beetles pitch tubes; reddening of foliage
Fun facts
Ponderosa pine is an extremely important timber species in western North America (second only to Douglas-fir)and an icon in western coniferous forests.
Pinus Latin name for pine from Greek "pitus". ponderosa ponderous or heavy (wood) - Latin "pondus" (weight or size).
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2004 Virginia Tech Forestry Department, all rights reserved. Text, images, and programming by: Dr. Jeff Kirwan, Dr. John R. Seiler, John A. Peterson, Edward C. Jensen, Guy Phillips, or Andrew S. Meeks.

questions, comments, and criticisms: email John.Peterson@vt.edu