Blackjack Pine Pinus ponderosa
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- PY-nus pon-der-OH-suh
- Description
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The most common pine in North America, the Ponderosa Pine grows with yellowish-brown to cinnamon-red bark in flaky plates. It prefers deep, moist well-drained soil but will grow in a wide range of conditions.
There are 3 distinct regional varieties of this native tree that often grow in pure stands. In the Pacific coast region, the variety Ponderosa Pine or Pacific Ponderosa Pine has long needles, 3 in a bundle and large cones. Rocky Mountain Ponderosa Pine or Interior Ponderosa Pine has short needles, 2 in a bundle and small cones. In southwest Arizona, you can find Arizona Pine or Arizona Ponderosa Pine. That variety has 5 slender needles in a bundle.
When broken, the trunk, twigs, and needles emit a pleasant aroma.
Its habit is narrow pyramidal in youth, irregular crown with age. It has numerous short branches and drops its lower branches. Old trees have no branches for more than 1/2 of their height.
Insect, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This tree is susceptible to wind damage. There is some susceptibility to root rot, blister rusts and needle blight.
VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I: Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II: Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- var. scopulorum
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- var. scopulorum
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Pinus
- Species:
- ponderosa
- Family:
- Pinaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southwestern USA
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low 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. Quail, nutcrackers, and squirrels eat the seeds. They are also collected and stored by chipmunks.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 60 ft. 0 in. - 100 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 25 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Habit/Form:
- Open
- Pyramidal
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4b, 4a, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7b, 7a
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Also 3 to 6 in. cones, single or in clusters of 3 to 5, light reddish-brown
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- 5 to 10 in. rigid, curved needles in bundles of 3, dark green to yellowish-green
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Black
- Dark Brown
- Bark Description:
- Bark on young trees is dark brown to black. In mature trees, the bark can be a yellowish-brown to reddish-orange.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Recreational Play Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Problems:
- Problem for Horses
