Pine Parenthood
Posted by Judy R on June 3, 2004
Q: While in the Rocky Mountain National Forest, my husband and I notice a beautiful evergreen, it had long needles, and a cluster of 2-3 cones at or near the end of the branch's, could you tell us what it is? Also would this grow in the notheastern part of Kansas. Thank you, Judy
A: Oh my, there are lots of different evergreens but I may be able to give you
a "good guess" as to what you saw- I could have used more information
however. Since you mentioned that the needles were long, I figure you were
looking at a pine, not a spruce or fir. The most common pine in that area
is the Ponderosa Pine. This tree gets quite large although in marginal
habitat, it may be stunted. Ponderosa Pines have bundles of needles in 2s
or 3s and their cones have scales tipped with sharp prickles. On a warm
day, if you get up close to their trunks you can actually smell a
vanilla-like odor. This is an especially beautiful pine and one that grows
throughout much of the western U.S. and Canada.
Sure, a Ponderosa Pine would grow in Kansas - I even know of some growing in New York State! Not sure where you'd get a tree to plant but nurseries in Colorado probably have some.
John Wiessinger ( June 9, 2004)