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Ponderosa Pine (Bundle of 3) | Spring 2027
$99.99
Reliable shipping
Flexible returns
Ripening
Will it finish before your first hard freeze?
Check it on the Ripening Map (opens in a new tab)At a glance: Ponderosa Pine is a pine tree rated hardy to zone 2b in our ratings (winters to -45°F), wind-pollinated, and it ripens about Aug 24 to Sep 19 in Missoula (our Missoula estimate).
| Hardy to | Zone 2b to 7. The b means the warmer half of zone 2 only (winters to -45°F). Find your zone with our cold hardiness calculator. |
|---|---|
| Pollination | Wind-Pollinated. Bloom group 4 of 7 (mid), late spring to early summer here. Ponderosa pine is wind-pollinated and outcrossing, so planting the three seedlings together helps cone and seed set. It offers no nectar for bees and is not an orchard pollenizer. Bloom group is our estimate from the variety's origin and relatives. Pollination Charts. |
| Ripens | About Aug 24 to Sep 19 in Missoula (a Missoula estimate from published sources). Real years swing about a week either way. See the date for your town. |
| Good for | Feeding wildlife (8/10), windbreaks and hedgerows (8/10), wood (8/10), ornamental value (7/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 8 and up makes our Best Of lists. |
| Deer | Seldom badly damaged by deer. |
| What you get | Bare root, 7-15". Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out. |
Overview
Ponderosa, or “P Pine” as we call it locally, is the largest of the Western Pine species. While often thought of as a "mountain tree," Ponderosa Pines can also be found in the western Great Plains and rocky mountain terrain, thriving on sites that are relatively dry and nutrient-poor.
Distinctive Features
These trees are characterized by needles in clusters of two or three, ranging from five to ten inches long. Their bark starts as brown to black, but with age, it turns yellowish-brown to cinnamon, with scaly plates separated by deep, irregular furrows.
Cones and Growth
Ponderosas bear cones that are three to six inches long and two inches wide, with sharp points on the ends of the scales.
Drought Tolerant and Important for Wildlife
Extremely drought-tolerant, Ponderosa Pines are crucial for supporting wildlife habitat, native bird and insect populations, and even creating fossil water. Hardy to zone 1.
Current Stock
These trees are bare root and range from 7 inches to 1.5 ft. tall. Due to their slow-growing nature, they are actually going into their fifth year.
Questions we get about Ponderosa Pine
How cold hardy is Ponderosa Pine?
We rate Ponderosa Pine hardy to zone 2b, which means winters down to about -45°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.
When does Ponderosa Pine ripen?
About Aug 24 to Sep 19 in Missoula, Montana (an estimate built from published sources and our climate). Warmer places run earlier and cooler places later; our ripening map converts the date to your town.
What is Ponderosa Pine good for?
Our top use scores for Ponderosa Pine are feeding wildlife (8/10), windbreaks and hedgerows (8/10), wood (8/10), ornamental value (7/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.
Will deer eat Ponderosa Pine?
Not badly. Deer may nibble Ponderosa Pine, but they seldom do real damage.
What arrives, and when does Ponderosa Pine ship?
A dormant bare-root plant, roots wrapped in moist sawdust with a vapor barrier, shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring. Sizes offered: 7-15". We guarantee our plants bud out. Stone fruits can be slow, so if one still has not budded out by August 15, write to us and we credit you for the following spring.