Canopy Diameter of a Ponderosa Pine Tree

Canopy Diameter

• In the wild, the ponderosa pine can grow to great heights -- up to 230 feet, reports the Arbor Day Foundation. In a landscape, however, they are much smaller. On average, a ponderosa pine grown in a landscape reaches between 60 and 100 feet in height. The canopy spread of the average landscape ponderosa pine is between 25 and 30 feet.

About the Crown

• A young ponderosa pine tree has a pyramidal shape, with tight, dense branches. As the tree grows, it becomes more open, and it loses its lower branches. The open crown, bare lower trunk and dense bark are designed to protect the tree from forest fires. Occasional fires are necessary to allow for the survival of the species, as the fires clear out more shade-tolerant trees that would otherwise crowd out the ponderosa pines.

Largest Ponderosa Pines

• One of the largest ponderosa pines in the country is located in California. Measured in 2008, this tree (Pinus ponderosa var. benthamiana) has a height of 235 feet, with a crown spread of 66 feet. In 2011, another ponderosa pine with a height of more than 268 feet was discovered near a campsite in Oregon, which is known to have large populations of ponderosa pines.

The Rest of the Tree

• Ponderosa pines are not just large in form. The needles can reach lengths of 10 inches, and the prickly cones can be as long as 6 inches. Although ponderosa pines are stunning visually, they are also a treat for the nose: The bark of the trees has a scent much like vanilla, according to Montana Outdoors, and the needles, when crushed, have a scent vaguely reminiscent of citrus.