lodgepole pine
Western Ponderosa Pine
Lodgepole Pine (Lodgepole Pine) is a tall, slender pine with relatively thin bark and short needles that grow in pairs, usually 1.5–3 inches long. Cones are small and often remain attached to the tree for years. It commonly forms dense forests at higher elevations and in colder mountain environments. Ponderosa Pine (Ponderosa Pine) is a larger, more open-grown pine with thick, puzzle-piece-like orange-brown bark that smells faintly like vanilla or butterscotch when warmed by the sun. Its needles are much longer (typically 5–10 inches) and grow in bundles of three. It is common in drier, lower-elevation forests. Quick field tip: Count the needles and look at the bark. Short needles in pairs and thin gray bark point to lodgepole pine; long needles in bundles of three and orange, plated bark point to ponderosa pine.