| General Description | A single trunked, statuesque tree growing to about 40 m in height with a trunk diameter of about 1.5 m. The bark is deeply furrowed and is reddish/brown in colour. Crown is conical to columnar with an irregularly rounded top when mature. |
| ID Characteristic | Needles are 14-27 cm long, twisted and blue/green in colour. Cones are 13-35 cm long with sharp spines that face inwards. Looks very similar to P. ponderosa, yet P. jeffreyi has longer needles and longer cones with flat bottoms. When bruised, P. jeffreyi has a much sweeter smell than P. ponderosa, similar to vanilla or pineapple. |
| Shape | Pyrimidal when young, as it ages it forms a dome shaped crown and overall conical shape. |
| Landscape | Good for a specimen plant or ornamental, as it requires careful siting with respect to soil conditions in order for it to develop. The soil must be well drained, loose, course, sandy or gravelly. Not tolerant of shade, ozone pollution or salt. |
| Propagation | Easily propagated from seed. Seeds germinate best after 60 days of stratification around 5° C. Seeds should be sown above a maximum depth of 6-8 mm in mineral soils in full sun. To raise healthy Jeffrey Pines, soil management is very important; soil aeration and rapid drainage is crucial. |
| Cultivation | Uncommonly or rarely cultivated. Fairly tolerant when young and is a prolific seeder. Soil demands are moderate but must be in a well drained, loose, course, sandy or gravelly soil. |
| Pests | Squirrels, mice and birds can consume a large number of seeds. Seems to not be affected by many diseases in Ontario, although Pine needle scale has been seen and any disease that can affect P. ponderosa could also cause a problem with P. jeffreyi. |
| Notable Specimens | Two in the Arboretum at the University of Guelph in the conifers section, Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Whistling Gardens, Wilsonville, Ontario, Canada. |
| Habitat | High, dry, mountain forests from southern Oregon to California. |
| Bark/Stem Description | Dark red/brown bark is deeply furrowed, with ridges forming narrow irregularly connected paths with one another. In old trees, the bark becomes deeply broken into long wide plates of bright red/brown. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description | Buds are ovoid/tan-red/brown in colour and 2-3 cm long. They are not resinous and scale margins are fringed. New growth is stout, 2 cm thick, purple in colour and often glaucous. |
| Leaf Description | Needles grown in fascicles of 3, are about 14-27 cm long by 2 mm wide, blue-green to pale grey in colour, with a slight twist. Needles persist on branches for 4-6 years. |
| Flower Description | Monecious. Male flowers are 3-4 cm long, cylindrical, yellow and are held terminally. Female flowers are red, round, 1.5 cm long and in pairs, which are held terminally as well. |
| Fruit Description | Cones are 13-35 cm long and the scales are thin. Armed with a stout, long, incurved prickle. Purple at maturity and are light orange/brown when shed. |
| Colour Description | Dark blue/green to pale grey; needles have no autumn colour. The bark is red/brown with brighter colour inside furrows. Cones are purple when young, and orange/brown when mature. |
| Texture Description | Medium to coarse. |
