Ponderosa Pine

Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa)

Common Name(s): Ponderosa Pine

Scientific Name: Pinus ponderosa

Distribution: S

Tree Size: 100-115 ft (30-35 m) tall, 1.5-5 ft (.4-1.5 m) trunk diameter

Average Dried Weight: 29 lbs/ft³ (470 kg/m³)

Basic Specific Gravity: .38

Hardness: 460 lb_f (2,050 N)

Rupture Strength: 9,400 lb_f/in² (64,830 kPa)

Elastic Strength: 1,290,000 lb_f/in² (8,900 MPa)

Shrinkage: Radial: 3.9%, Tangential: 6.2%, Volumetric: 9.7%, T/R Ratio: 1.6

Color/Appearance: Heartwood is reddish brown, sapwood is yellowish white.

Grain/Pore: Straight grained with a fine to medium texture and closed pores.

Durability: The heartwood is rated as moderate to low in decay resistance.

Workability: Overall, Loblolly Pine works fairly well with most tools, and it glues and finishes well.

Scent: There is no characteristic odor associated with this wood species.

Safety: Working with pine has been reported to cause allergic skin reactions and/or asthma in some people. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Price/Availability: Should be widely available as construction lumber for a modest price.

Comments: Loblolly Pine is considered to be in the group of southern yellow pines, and shares many characteristics with other species of this group (Longleaf, Shortleaf, and Slash Pine) such as being: hard, dense, and possessing an excellent strength-to-weight ratio.

Loblolly Pine is commonly used for construction, such as: stringers, roof trusses, poles, joists, piles; as well as interior applications such as subflooring and sheathing. In exterior applications, it is usually pressure-treated with preservatives.

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