Northwest Conifers

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Jeffrey Pine – Pinus jeffreyi

Needles: Like Ponderosa Pine, it has 3 needles per bundle. Jeffrey Pine needles typically grow farther along the twig, while Ponderosa Pine needles are bunched at the end.

Twig

Cones: The cones are 6 to 10 inches long and have a sharp prickle on each scale. Although Jeffrey cones are often described as less prickly than ponderosa cones, the difference is a subtle one. Cone size is the best way to distinguish Jeffrey Pine from Ponderosa Pine, which has smaller 3 to 6 inch cones. The prickles do tend to point out more on Ponderosa cones, but this doesn't mean you won't feel any pain when you pick up a Jeffrey cone. Also, the Jeffrey prickles are long and narrow compared to those of Ponderosa Pine.

Cones

Ponderosa and Jeffrey cones

Bark: The bark looks similar to Ponderosa Pine with flat plates shaped like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. But Jeffrey Pine bark is brown. The bark is variously described as smelling like vanilla, lemon, or pineapple.

Bark

Where it grows: Southwest Oregon and throughout the Sierra Nevada of California up to the timberline. 

Jeffrey pine at Hoyt Arboretum

Map

USGS Distribution Map

Uses: Similar to Ponderosa Pine.

Names: Named after Scottish botanist John Jeffrey. Other common names: Western Yellow Pine, Bull Pine. 

Tree


© 2012 Ken Denniston