Yellow Pine Pinus jeffreyi
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Yellow Pine:
Previously known as:
- Pinus ponderosa subsp. jeffreyi
- Phonetic Spelling
- PY-nus JEF-ree-eye
- Description
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Jeffrey's Pine is a large, long-lived needled evergreen tree native to Oregon south through Baja California and can be confused with the ponderosa pine. The Jeffrey pine can occupy many sites from the edges of moist, high mountain meadows to arid slopes bordering deserts and it will grow over a wide range of elevations but usually above 5000 ft. It grows in harsh and infertile sites and is tolerant of drought and cold weather. It can grow up to 140 feet tall in ideal conditions.
Its preference is for gravelly to sandy moist soils in full sun. Due to the size of this tree, it is best used in naturalized areas. May do well in the mountains of NC but may not tolerate the heat and humidity of the Piedmont and coastal areas.
Insect, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This tree is susceptible to wind damage.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Pinus
- Species:
- jeffreyi
- Family:
- Pinaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Wood is primarily used for lumber
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Western U.S.A
- Distribution:
- Oregon south to Baja CA and western NV
- Wildlife Value:
- This plant supports Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed. Seeds are eaten by small mammals and birds. It provides cover for wildlife. Deer resistant
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Ascending
- Conical
- Erect
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Description:
- Oval female cones are 6-10 inches long with inward-facing spines making them feel smooth.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Needles are 3 per fascicle, spreading-ascending, persisting 5-8 years, and 7-11 inches long. They are slightly twisted, blue-green, all surfaces with fine stomatal lines, margins finely serrulate, and apex acute to acuminate.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Furrowed
- Scaly
- Bark Plate Shape:
- Irregular
- Bark Description:
- The bark is cinnamon brown, thick, deeply furrowed and cross-checked, forming large irregular scaly plates, with an odor of lemon, vanilla or pineapple during the growing season.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Cream/Tan
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Bud Scales:
- No scales, covered in hair
- Stem Surface:
- Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
- Stem Description:
- Branches are spreading-ascending. The twigs are stout purple-brown and often glaucous, aging rough. Buds ovoid, tan to pale red-brown, non-resinous. Scale margins conspicuously fringed.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Nighttime Garden
- Winter Garden
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
