Softwood.
About Ponderosa Pine – Tree Identification, Properties & Uses – Softwood Species | naturally:wood.
Is ponderosa a hard wood?
Comments: Although Ponderosa Pine is technically classified as a yellow (hard) pine, it shares many characteristics with white (soft) pines, having a considerably lower density than the yellow pine species found in the eastern United States.
What is another name for ponderosa pine?
The Scottish botanist David Douglas named this pine for its ponderous or heavy wood. Other common names are yellow pine, western longleaf pine, bull pine, western red pine, western pitch pine, Sierra brownbark pine, ponderosa white pine and black jack pine.
What is the hardest type of pine?
Of all the pine boards found in the lumber yard, the southern yellow pine may be the hardest. The longleaf variety is rated on the Janka hardness scale at 870, which compares to the hardest of woods, the black walnut, at a Janka rating of 1010. The white pine is a poor 420 Janka.
Why is it called Ponderosa pine?
The ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), also known as yellow pine, is one of the most widely distributed trees in the western United States. Named for its “ponderous” or heavy wood, ponderosa pines can be found in 16 different western states.
What is ponderosa pine good for?
It is extremely valuable to general industry and it is widely used in woodworking for fabricating into architectural woodwork, furniture and specialty products. The clear wood is used for sashes, doors, blinds, moulding, paneling, interior woodwork, and built-in cases and cabinets.
What is special about ponderosa pine?
Pinus ponderosa is one of the Southwest’s tallest trees in many parts of its range, growing to incredible heights of over 200 feet, with huge trunks 3-4 feet across. Named for its ponderous (heavy) wood, this pine is the major lumber tree in the Southwest. These woody behemoths grow on dry mountain slopes and mesas.
What state has the most ponderosa pines?
Most people don’t think of pine forests when they think of the Grand Canyon or the state of Arizona. However, the world’s largest Ponderosa pine forest is in Arizona.
Why do ponderosa pine trees smell like vanilla?
It may smell like butterscotch or vanilla. The next person who smells it may insist it’s more like cinnamon, or even coconut. Scientists don’t know why a closely sniffed Ponderosa smells like baking cookies. The aroma may arise from a chemical in the sap being warmed by the sun.
What is the best quality pine?
Of the three, Eastern White Pine tends to have the finest texture (i.e., smallest diameter tracheids) and the smallest resin canals. Sugar Pine, by contrast, has the coarsest texture and the largest resin canals. Western White Pine falls somewhere between the two previously mentioned species.
Is Ponderosa pine good for furniture?
In the workshop, ponderosa pine easily fashions into furniture, wood novelties, toys, pastry boards, and cabinets. Carvers often choose it over other woods. Ponderosa pine is available in both “construction” dimension and hardwood dimension, such as 6/4.
What is the strongest soft wood?
Grown throughout the southeastern U.S., yellow pine is by far the strongest softwood on our list. It has the highest bending strength & compression strength of any softwood seen throughout North America. And it’s high strength-to-weight ratio makes it popular for building trusses and joists.
How hard is ponderosa pine?
Janka Hardness is 460 pounds of force. Drying and Shrinkage: Ponderosa Pines seasons well with minimal splitting, cupping, or warping. The wood is relatively unaffected by changes in humidity after it has been dried.
Do ponderosa pines have deep roots?
One reason ponderosa pine is able to grow on dry sites is its vigorous rooting system. Seedlings put out a taproot which can grow up to 20 inches or more in the first two months, in well-watered soils. Mature trees have roots down to 6 feet in porous soils and may extend laterally 150 feet in open stands.
How long does it take for a ponderosa pine to mature?
300 to 400 years
An interesting fact about Ponderosa pines is the number of years to maturity. The trees do not mature until they are 300 to 400 years of age. One of the most important Ponderosa pine growing tips for the home gardener is the space required for this amazing tree. Trunks grow 42 inches (107 cm.)
Is ponderosa pine good firewood?
Ponderosa pine firewood is easy to burn and produces good flames that make it a decent choice of firewood for fireplaces and campfires. But being a low density softwood it burns fast and has a low BTU rating so it’s not the best wood for wood stoves and home heating.
Can I make tea from a ponderosa pine?
Tea made from the needles is rich in Vitamin C but should only be taken in moderation. Large amounts of evergreen teas can be toxic. The inner bark can be eaten raw or cooked and it is best harvested in the spring.
Can you drink tea from ponderosa pine?
Most pine trees can be used for pine needle tea, but not all. There are some that are poisonous or toxic. Those you want to avoid include Lodgepole Pine, Monterey Pine, Ponderosa Pine, Norfolk Pine (Australian Pine), Loblolly Pine, Common Juniper, and although not a pine, Yew.
Are ponderosa pine needles toxic?
These findings suggest that ponderosa pine needles and tips are both abortifacient and toxic. Because the lesions caused by pine tips, rosin gum, and dehydroabietic acid are similar, toxicosis is most likely due to the diterpene abietane acids, common in all three.
Do deer eat ponderosa pine trees?
Fig. 3. Mule deer consumed ponderosa pine needles throughout the grazing season. They relished green needlesfrom live trees (left) but also ate quantities of dry needles from downed trees or slash (right).
What states do ponderosa pines grow in?
South of Wyoming, Rocky Mountain ponderosa pine extends south on both sides of the Continental Divide, west to Arizona, and the eastern edge of the Great Basin in Nevada, east to Texas west of the Pecos River, New Mexico, extreme northwestern Oklahoma, Colorado, and northern Mexico (36).