Rocky Mountain ponderosa pine Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Rocky Mountain ponderosa pine:
- Phonetic Spelling
- PY-nus pon-der-OH-suh skop-yew-LOR-um
- Description
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One of the three varieties of Pinus ponderosa. This variety has short needles in bundles of two and small cones.
This important timber pine has reached heights of 100'. It's height potential and 3' trunk makes this pine the most important commercial pine in the southwest US and the Rocky Mountain region. Its wood is hard and fine-grained, making the quality excellent choice for building lumber.
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:
- ponderosa
- Family:
- Pinaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Western Central U.S.A. to Northern Mexico
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- 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. Birds eat the seeds
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 60 ft. 0 in. - 90 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 25 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Pyramidal
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- 3" to 6" woody, oval-shaped cone with prickles on the ends of the scales.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Male cones are 1.5" and brown, round female cones (.25") and reddish
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 5" to 10" in bundles of 3 masses toward the end of the branches. Crushing the needles give off a citrus scent.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Red/Burgundy
- Bark Description:
- Smells like vanilla when scratched with a fingernail. Reddish-brown in color, the bark separates into broad, flat plates, separated by dark fissures.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Nighttime Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Barrier
- Border
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Shade Tree
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Moths
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
