Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum: Country Or Region Of Origin
Western Central U.S.A. to Northern Mexico
Plant Profile: Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum
Names
Black Hills Ponderosa Pine, Interior Ponderosa Pine, Ponderosa Pine, Rocky Mountain ponderosa pine, Rocky Mountain yellow pine
Phonetic Spelling:PY-nus pon-der-OH-suh skop-yew-LOR-um
Genus:Pinus
Species:ponderosa
Family:Pinaceae
Pinus ponderosa includes three distinct varieties, one of which features short needles grouped in pairs and produces small cones.
This significant timber species can grow up to 100 feet tall, with a trunk diameter of 3 feet, establishing it as the leading commercial pine in the southwestern United States and the Rocky Mountain area. Its wood is known for being hard and fine-grained, making it an exceptional choice for construction lumber.
For further details on Pinus ponderosa, please refer to additional resources.
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum Feature Summary
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum Image Gallery
Tags
#evergreen
#drought tolerant
#wildlife plant
#native tree
#moths
#winter interest
#deer resistant
#nighttime garden
#cold tolerant
#larval host plant
#sandy soils tolerant
#moth larvae
#pollinator garden
#imperial moth
Similar Plants
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum Feature Summary
Attributes
Western Central U.S.A. to Northern Mexico
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
Perennial
Woody
Wildlife Food Source
medium flammability
Fruit
3" to 6" woody, oval-shaped cone with prickles on the ends of the scales.
Red/Burgundy
Brown/Copper
> 3 inches
Flowers
Male cones are 1.5" and brown, round female cones (.25") and reddish
Red/Burgundy
Brown/Copper
1-3 inches
Leaves
5" to 10" in bundles of 3 masses toward the end of the branches. Crushing the needles give off a citrus scent.
Needled Evergreen
Green
Simple
Linear
> 6 inches
Bark
Smells like vanilla when scratched with a fingernail. Reddish-brown in color, the bark separates into broad, flat plates, separated by dark fissures.
Dark Brown
Red/Burgundy
Whole Plant Traits
Tree
Needled Evergreen
Rounded
Pyramidal
Medium
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Acid (<6.0)
Good Drainage
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
3a
3b
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Stem
Brown/Copper
Red/Burgundy
Landscape
Pollinator Garden
Nighttime Garden
Native Garden
Border
Hedge
Mass Planting
Shade Tree
Screen/Privacy
Specimen
Barrier
Drought
Deer
Woodland
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Pollinators
Songbirds
Moths
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum Image Gallery
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum Attributes
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum: 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
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum: Play Value
Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum: Fire Risk Rating
extreme flammability
high flammability
low flammability
medium flammability
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum Fruit
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum: Fruit Description
3" to 6" woody, oval-shaped cone with prickles on the ends of the scales.
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum: Fruit Color
Brown/Copper
Red/Burgundy
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum: Fruit Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum Flowers
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum: Flower Description
Male cones are 1.5" and brown, round female cones (.25") and reddish
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum: Flower Color
Brown/Copper
Red/Burgundy
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum Leaves
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum: Leaf Description
5" to 10" in bundles of 3 masses toward the end of the branches. Crushing the needles give off a citrus scent.
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum: Leaf Color
Green
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum Bark
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum: 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.
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum: Bark Color
Dark Brown
Red/Burgundy
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum Whole Plant Traits
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum Cultural Conditions
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
3a
3b
4a
4b
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum Stem
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum: Stem Color
Brown/Copper
Red/Burgundy
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum Landscape
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
