About the Ponderosa Pine
A large, stately tree with cinnamon-colored bark. The needles form tufts at the end of branches and are usually in bundles of three. It is mostly found east of the Cascades but there are a few populations west of the Cascades in Washington State, most notably at Fort Lewis. Ponderosa Pine seeds are an extremely valuable food source for birds and squirrels. It is also a host plant for some butterflies.