| Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa) | | | | well drained soil. They can lose root mass in a hurry if |
| A conifer growing one to two main trunks with a | | | | over watered, planted in a high water table or poorly |
| narrow to round canopy. Maturing at 90' to 180' the | | | | drained soil. |
| trunk usually lacks limbs until the top third of the tree. | | | | Diseases: |
| It is found from California north into Canada and | | | | The major disease that effects Ponderosa is |
| from the Canadian Rockies into Mexico. The bark is | | | | vectored (introduced) through bark beetles carrying |
| made up of thick plates that are fire resistant and | | | | the blue stain fungus. This fungi rapidly clogs up the |
| brown to rusty orange. A truly beautiful tree. The | | | | phloem in the trees vascular system and cuts off |
| needles are 5-10" long and in bundles of two and | | | | nutrient and water flow within the tree system. It is |
| three. The cones are 3-5" long by 2-3" wide and each | | | | usually fatal once introduced. Dwarf Mistletoe is |
| scale on the cone terminates with a sharp point. In | | | | another major problem. It is a parasitic plant that |
| urban areas they are often easily confused with | | | | uses a root like system to tap into the host trees |
| Austrian Pines, which are non-native to Colorado. The | | | | vascular system and feed itself. It spreads by this |
| quick test to differentiate is in the needles and cones. | | | | "root" system within host plants and also by shooting |
| Needles of Austrian pines never have bundles of | | | | its sticky seeds via the special pressurized system it |
| three, only two to a set. The scales that make up | | | | has developed. |
| the cones may look very similar but they have blunt | | | | Pests: |
| tips in the Austrian where they are quite pointed and | | | | The largest threat to Ponderosa pines is the Mountain |
| sharp in the Ponderosa. The bark smells of vanilla | | | | Pine Beetle (MPB). IPS or Engraver beetles are also a |
| extract on live trees. | | | | problem for these trees. They are also susceptible to |
| Common Problems: | | | | pine bud-worm which eats the succulent new growth |
| Environmental: | | | | in the spring time. If left untreated for several |
| Structurally these trees tend to grow co-dominant | | | | seasons it can be detrimental to the tree. |
| competing leaders which lead to major crotch failures | | | | Cultivars: |
| as they mature. Just take a walk in the woods and | | | | There are several natural varieties that fit into the |
| keep an eye out for half a tree standing with a large | | | | Ponderosa general family. |
| tear on the trunk to confirm this. Ponderosa prefer a | | | | |