Ponderosa Pine Cone

Types of Pine Cones Douglas Fir Giant Sequoia Incense Cedar Knobcone Pine Western Hemlock Western Redcedar White Pine Types of Pine Cones

Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa) or Yellow Pine, as it is sometimes called, is a towering pine found growing throughout the Western United States.

Truth be told, the cone does not do the tree justice, which explains why the tree takes top picture billing. It is capable of growing close to two hundred feet, and it is covered by a nice looking orangish-red bark.

The bark, however nice looking, is a beetle magnet. Unless a homeowner is looking for bark mulch simply for aesthetic reasons, ponderosa pine bark mulch might not be the best mulching option.

The cone, less spectacular looking than the tree, but still nice, is characterized by pointed tips on the bottom of each scale. The picture also shows the needles that grow in groups of three.

© 2008 Patricia A. Michaels