Plant · GBIF taxon 5285053
Western Ponderosa Pine
Pinus ponderosaAlso known as Ponderosa Pine, Western Yellow Pine, Bull Pine, Black Jack
Ponderosa pines dominate dry, sunny mountains across western North America, easily identified by their deeply furrowed, puzzle-like bark that smells of vanilla or butterscotch on warm days. These thick-barked conifers form spacious, fire-adapted forests where low-intensity ground fires clear underbrush while leaving mature trees unharmed. Long needles grouped in bundles of three give their lofty canopy a distinctive, tufted appearance against the sky.
TreeEvergreenFire-Adapted
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthesis)
Predators
- Mountain Pine Beetle
- Pine Engraver Beetle
- Porcupine
ThreatsBark beetle infestations, catastrophic wildfires, and severe drought
HabitatsDry mountain slopes, foothill forests, and open plateaus
Life span300 to 600 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyPinaceae
- SpeciesPinus ponderosa
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Bark Aroma: Press your nose near the bark furrows on a warm day to smell sweet vanilla notes.
- Needle Bundles: Look closely at needle clusters to verify they grow in bundles of three.
- Tree Hazard: Avoid camping beneath dead or beetle-damaged trees during high wind conditions.
Frequent Companion (c) Alison Northup, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alison Northup · cc-by
Parasite 
Symbiont (c) Sally, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Frequent Companion (c) Danny Steaven, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-saClose Relative
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