Photographed 9/30/2012, Columbia Hills State Park, Klickitat County, Washington, copyright © 2012, Ian Barclay.
This photo is interesting in that it shows the effect of lawn irrigation on the bark color (on the lower trunk).

Family: Pinaceae Native to: Western North America in dry forests Dimensions: Tall tree to 100 - 150' or more, conical in youth Cold resistance: hardy to at least -40°F Drought resistance: good, but should be irrigated in low/hot desert Key Features: long needles and plated red bark, easy care within native range Uses: specimen tree, large-scale windbreak or shade, adaptable to hot microclimates, can be trained as a bonsai. Description: This tree is familiar to most anyone living throughout the western United States, as it grows in lower and drier forests over a very large area (extending into Canada and Mexico), often as the dominant tree. It is best known for the attractive plated red bark that forms on mature trees, although this takes many years. This feature seems to depend on the dry climate of the interior to show up; mature trees planted west of the Cascades don't typically exhibit this bark color, even on quite large trees. Although ponderosa pine reaches a huge size in nature, it is not terribly fast growing; one should generally plan on a conical shaped 40 - 60' tree in the garden. It should be planted on well-drained soil in full sun, and is a useful and stately drought-tolerant native tree for any site with adequate space.

Photographed 10/1/2011, Chelan County, Washington, copyright © 2011, Ian Barclay.

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All text, images and art copyright © 2000 - 2025, Ian Barclay.