Ponderosa Pine - Edible and Medicinal Tree Description and Identification

Toxicity Warning

Some sources indicate that large amounts of pine tea can be toxic. Extended use may irritate the kidneys. Pregnant cows that eat ponderosa pine needles may abort their calves. Please consult a local expert or a medical professional before consuming!

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Ponderosa Pine, also known as Yellow Pine, Western Yellow Pine, Bull Pine, and Rock Pine, is a large conifer tree. Its scientific name is Pinus ponderosa. It grows to a height of 15 to 30 m with a straight trunk that can have a diameter 1 to 1.5 m thick.

Bark

The bark is orange-brown to cinnamon colour with deep fissures and jigsaw-like plates. The bark is very thick and is fire-resistant.

Leaves

The leaves are evergreen needles which are the longest of all conifers in BC. The needles grown at the ends of branches typically in bunches of three and are 10 to 20 cm long.

Cones

The cones are broadly conical and 8 to 14 cm long. There is a firm prickle at the end of the thick scales. The cones can stay intact on the branches until a fire of sufficient heat causes the scales to release the seeds to allow for new plants to grow following a fire.

Distribution

Ponderosa Pine trees form open forests in hot and dry valleys and at low to mid elevations. Ponderosa Pine grow in grasslands and on open dry slopes.

Ponderosa Pine is very tolerant of high temperatures and droughts and are shade intolerant. Mature trees are fire resistant. Ponderosa Pine are found in Southern BC, Canada, and south into Washington, Oregon, and as far south as California. They live throughout the Pacific Northwest mainly east of the Cascade Mountains, but there are some to the west of the Cascades. They can also be found in Southern Alberta.

Mature trees are fire resistant because of the thick bark and self pruning traits in which lower branches fall off. A fire that may occur in a Ponderosa Pine forest may burn along the ground but may not reach the canopy allowing mature trees to survive the fire and creating an opportunity for new growth to begin.

Fire suppression activities have led to Douglas-Fir, which is more shade tolerant, to gain a competitive advantage over Ponderosa Pine.

Food

The inner bark, cambium, is edible. Oil-rich seeds are edible. Needles can be used to make tea which is rich in Vitamin A and C. Pregnant women should not drink Ponderosa Pine needle tea.

The cambium can be eaten fresh or cooked. The seeds are edible but are time consuming to collect.

Medicine

The Ponderosa Pine needle tea breaks up phlegm , opens the sinuses, and increases secretions to help clear the lungs. It is also rich in Vitamin A and C. Some sources indicate that Ponderosa Pine needle tea is the most potentially toxic pine tea, and pregnant women should not drink this tea.

Chewing pitch was used to help the lungs with respiratory infections, coughing, and sore throats. The resin and pitch can be used for various skin ailments, and the pitch was chewed like gum.

Please consume wild plants at your own risk! Consult multiple reliable sources before consuming any wild plants! This video is for information and entertainment only!

References

Kloos, Scott. Pacific Northwest Medicinal Plants. Timber Press, Inc. 2017

MacKinnon, A. Edible and Medicinal Plants of Canada. Lone Pine Media Productions (BC) Ltd. 2014.

Parish, R.; Coupe, R.; and Lloyd, D. Plants of the Inland Northwest and Southern Interior British Columbia. BC Ministry of Forests and Lone Pine Publishing. 2018

Turner, N. J. Food Plants of Interior First Peoples. Royal BC Museum. 2007