Jeffrey Pine

Jeffrey pine is a tall, long-lived conifer native to the mountains (above 2000 ft) of California, southern Oregon, and parts of Nevada, thriving on dry slopes and well-drained, often nutrient-poor soils. Closely resembling ponderosa pine, it can be distinguished by its heavier cones with inward-pointing prickles and its distinctive resin, which has a sweet, vanilla- or butterscotch-like scent. Mature trees can exceed 150 feet in height, with thick, fire-resistant bark that helps them withstand periodic wildfires. Ecologically, Jeffrey pine provides important habitat for birds and mammals, stabilizes soils in montane environments, and plays a significant role in mixed-conifer and montane forest ecosystems of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade ranges. It may be a climate-adapted option for higher elevations in our area.