Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! Silvics of North America: 1. Fire has a profound effect on ponderosa pine distribution. If you are looking for a pine that hits the ground running, you may want to read up on ponderosa pine facts. When you look into ponderosa pine facts, you find that these trees can live and thrive for up to 600 years. Publication of this series was in part funded by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection under Contract numbers 8CA96027 and 8CA96028. Competition from other plants, including neighboring trees and shrubs can reduce diameter growth markedly, especially on droughty soils. Mature trees have roots down to 6 feet in porous soils and may extend laterally 150 feet in open stands. Seeds are relatively small (7,000 to 23,000 in one pound) and fall only about 100 feet from the parent tree. Bark beetles (Ips spp.) Because ponderosa pine needs less nitrogen and phosphorus to grow its needles, the tree can grow well in soils which are not fertile enough for other species. This text was largely summarized from an article originally by William W. Oliver Project Leader, Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Berkeley, CA and Russell A. Ryker Principal Silviculturist (retired), Intermountain Research Station, Ogden, UT that appears in Burns, Russell M., and Barbara H. Honkala, tech. Seeds are relatively small (7,000 to 23,000 in one pound) and fall only about 100 feet from the parent tree. The largest recorded diameter was over 8 1/2 feet. Our third fast growing pine tree is the western yellow pine which is also known as the ponderosa pine or pinus ponderosa. Young ponderosa pine seedlings are threatened by moisture stress. Because of this intolerance to shade, ponderosa pine often grows in even-aged patches. Ponderosa pines are large trees native to the Rocky Mountain region of North America. Lastly, the fast-growing pines grow up to two feet and more annually. Most gardeners can consider planting these pine trees since they thrive in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 7. Although seedlings are killed by fire, larger trees possess thick bark, which protects them from fire damage. Don’t neglect water in the period of establishment when you are growing ponderosa pines. Seedlings put out a taproot which can grow up to 20 inches or more in the first two months, in well-watered soils. Alternatively, purchase a young ponderosa pine from your garden store. It is vulnerable to overcrowding but may respond to thinning between ages 70 to 100. Planting ponderosa pine trees is a good investment. The mature tree's uniform grain makes it desirable when appearance rather than strength is important. The female cones release their winged seeds in autumn of the tree’s second year. Western pine beetle (Dendroctonus brevicomis) is a common cause of death for older trees and drought stressed trees, as well as for healthy, vigorous trees during epidemics. The tallest tree was 232 feet, and the oldest tree was 600 years. Hardy and drought resistant, ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) grows rapidly, and its roots dig deep into most types of soil. The west slope of the northern Sierra Nevada, which receives an average rainfall of 69 inches, may be the wettest area in its natural range supporting ponderosa pine in large numbers.Ponderosa pine grows on a wide variety of soils, including those of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary parent materials. 1, 675 p. Interested readers are referred to the original article for more detailed and technical information and references. Gardeners in hot, dry areas sometimes opt for ponderosa pine as a landscape ornamental due to its hardiness and natural resilience; however, it is relatively slow growing. For that reason, they are often planted for erosion control. Trees grown with intense competition are also subject to more insect damage. In the past, frequent low-intensity fires kept many pine forests open and park-like and helped to maintain ponderosa pine in areas where more shade-tolerant species would have predominated. In shade, ponderosa pine grows at half the rate of associated species including Douglas-fir, sugar pine, white fir, and incense cedar. Pinus ponderosa, commonly known as the ponderosa pine, bull pine, blackjack pine, western yellow-pine, or filipinus pine is a very large pine tree species of variable habitat native to mountainous regions of western North America.It is the most widely distributed pine species in North America. The tree flowers from April to June of the first year, and cones mature and shed seeds in August and September of the second year. California is second, after Oregon, in production of ponderosa pine lumber, milling more than a billion board feet a year. A typical cultivated ponderosa pine grows to around 60 feet tall with a branch spread of about 25 feet (7.6 m.). The bark of the ponderosa pine is orange brown, and it looks scaly. An interesting fact about Ponderosa pines is the number of years to maturity. The lower half of the straight trunk is bare, while the top half has branches with needles. One of the most important Ponderosa pine growing tips for the home gardener is the space required for this amazing tree. Ponderosa pine regenerates by seed, with cones maturing in a two-year cycle. Competition from shrubs can reduce their height and diameter growth. The ponderosa pine, also known as the yellow pine, is one of the most widely distributed tree species in the West, growing from southern Canada into Mexico, and from Nebraska and Oklahoma all the way to the Pacific Coast. The ponderosa pine grows to a height of 60–100' and a spread of 25–30' at maturity. It helps that they tolerate most soil types, shallow and deep, sandy and clay, as long as it is at least slightly acidic. The species grows better on soils which are medium in texture and, hence, release their moisture to plants readily. Its distribution on drier sites depends on soil moisture, which depends on soil texture and depth. Fire suppression over the last 100 years has allowed unnaturally high buildup of fuels and allowed ponderosa pine dominated stands to be crowded with white fir. Historically, nearly every even-aged and uneven-aged silvicultural system has been applied to ponderosa pine management, with variable levels of success. It is among the most resistant of species to salt-spray, making it an ideal choice for seaside gardens. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Washington, DC. If you want a do-it-yourself tree planting experience, collect ponderosa pine cones in late fall when they turn reddish brown. They grow to a maximum of one foot a year. It is also used in home construction for framing, floor and roof decking, and outdoor applications when treated. Pine beetles (Dendroctonus spp.) Cones are oval, 3 to 6 inches long and 2 to 4 inches in diameter, with outwardly curved spines that make them prickly to handle. Ponderosa pine care is easier if you plant the tree in a sunny location on loamy, well-drained soil. Conifers. © 2020 Regents of the University of California. Young pines don’t appreciate water stress, although mature specimens are drought tolerant. Young seedlings can withstand higher temperatures than most associates including Douglas-fir, white fir, and sugar pine but are more easily damaged from frost (23° F) than other trees. Agriculture Handbook 654. Ponderosa pine regenerates by seed, with cones maturing in a two-year cycle. Interested readers are referred to the original article for more detailed and technical information and references. Old-growth ponderosa pine produces clear, knot-free, high grade lumber, but young trees are often limby because self-pruning develops slowly, causing knotty lumber. Trees with a diameter of 30 to 50 inches and height of 90 to 130 feet are common throughout its range. Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) is a large coniferous tree with a lifespan of up to 600 years. Big game such as deer and elk use the forests for food and shelter as do many other wildlife species. The hard, brown seeds will drop from the cones if you dry them on a tarp in a well ventilated area. Its elevation ranges from 500 to 3,500 feet in Northern California and 5,300 to 7,300 feet in Southern California. Seeds are damaged or eaten by insects, birds, and small mammals such as mice, chipmunks, and tree squirrels. coords. Parasites, root diseases, rusts, trunk decays, and needle and twig blights also cause significant damage.