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| ## jeffrey pine {#jeffrey-pine .Title-Header}                         |
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| *Pinus jeffreyi* Grev. & Balf.                                        |
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| Plant Symbol =PIJE                                                    |
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*Contributed by: USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center*

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="3.0in" height="2.0006944444444446in"}

© Gary A. Monroe. Plumas Co., CA. July 24, 2002.

# Uses

*Ethnobotanic use.* The turpentine obtained from the resin of all pine
trees is antiseptic, diuretic, rubefacient and vermifuge. It is a
valuable remedy used internally in the treatment of kidney and bladder
complaints and is used both internally and as a rub and steam bath in
the treatment of rheumatic affections. It is also very beneficial to the
respiratory system and so is useful in treating diseases of the mucous
membranes and respiratory complaints such as coughs, colds, influenza
and externally it is a very beneficial treatment for a variety of skin
complaints, wounds, sores, burns, boils etc and is used in the form of
liniment plasters, poultices, herbal steam baths and inhalers.

*Commercial uses:* The primary use for Jeffrey pine is for lumber. The
low-grade Jeffrey pine trees are processed into dimensional lumber, as
well as other construction products. Some of the other construction
products made from high-grade lumber, as a raw material are molding,
millwork, cabinets, doors, and windows. It is important to note that for
commercial use, no distinction is made between the wood of Jeffrey pine
and ponderosa pine.

Pure n-heptane is distilled from Jeffrey Pine resin. It was selected as
the zero point on the petrol octane rating scale. Jeffrey Pine resin
cannot be used to make turpentine, as n-heptane is explosive when
ignited.

*Wildlife uses:* The Jeffrey pine forests provide wildlife cover for
birds, small mammals and big game. Its' seeds are both disseminated and
eaten by insects, birds, and small mammals such as mice, chipmunks, and
tree squirrels.

# Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status (e.g. threatened or endangered
species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

# Description

*General:* The Jeffrey pine may live 400 to 500 years and can attain
immense size. It typically grows to 4 to 6 feet in diameter, and 170 to
200 feet in height. To date, the largest Jeffrey pine recorded in the
western Sierra Nevada had a diameter of 7.5 feet, and a height of 175
feet.

The Jeffrey pine needles are in bundles of three (3), and are 7 to 11
inches long. Its' cones are 6 to 10 inches long, and oval lacking the
spines, which make ponderosa pine cones prickly.

The Jeffrey pine bark is deeply furrowed, and reddish-brown compared to
orange of the ponderosa pine. It also has a strong vanilla or pineapple
odor.

*Distribution*: Jeffrey pine is found primarily in California extending
north through the Klamath Mountains into southwestern Oregon, across the
Sierra Nevada into western Nevada, and south to the Transverse and
Peninsular Ranges and into northern Baja California. In the northeast,
central, and southern portions of its range, climate and elevation
determine its distribution, rather than soil type.

*Habitat*: The Jeffrey pine can occupy many sites from the edges of
moist, high mountain meadows to arid slopes bordering deserts, and it
will grow over a wide range of elevations. The Jeffrey pine also grows
in a diverse range of climatic conditions. It grows well on harsh and
infertile sites. It is tolerant of drought, adapts to cold weather
because it requires a shorter growing season than the ponderosa pine.
Cold winters largely determine its presence in the Klamath, western
Sierra Nevada, and southern California ranges.

# Adaptation

The Jeffrey pine grows on a wide variety of well-drained soils. In the
northwest portion of its range, the Jeffrey pine grows on infertile
soils. However, it typically grows on infertile soils, mostly shallow
and fine, fine loamy, and clay-textured gravelly surface soils. This
pine grows at elevations as low as 200 feet.

In the Sierra Nevada, Jeffrey pine typically grows on volcanic soils
with coarse soil texture, as gravelly sandy loams or loamy coarse sands.
Jeffrey pine grows at elevations from 1,600 to over 9,000 feet.

Jeffrey pine has exhibited potential for re-vegetation of acid mine
waste sites in northeastern California. It was found to be well adapted
to a sulfur mine spoil site that was high in acidity and low in nitrogen
availability.

# 

# Establishment

The Jeffrey pine regenerates sexually through seed production over a
two-year cycle. Trees flower in June and July of the first year, and
cones mature in the summer of the second year. Most seeds are shed in
September and October. Seeds typically fall only about 100 feet from the
parent tree, although fall storms with high winds may carry seeds up to
1/2 mile away.

On the west side of the Sierra Nevada, seed crops are borne every 2 to 8
years. Trees may start to bear cones as early as eight years old, but
typical seed bearers are 30+ years old and 60 to 180 feet tall. Seeds
germinate quickly in the spring. However, regeneration of Jeffrey pine
by seed or replanting may fail due to poor seedbeds, sparse seed crops,
poor seed dissemination, seed predators, cutworms, and diseases.

Seedlings establish most successfully on bare mineral soil. A major
cause of regeneration failure is competition for moisture from other
vegetation. Heavy competition from brush, grasses, and sedges for soil
water can be lethal to Jeffrey pine seedlings in the dry summer period,
while shade from shrubs can slow growth of surviving seedlings.

Jeffrey pine can grow to impressive size on the best sites, however; by
contrast, stand productivity is low for Jeffrey pine on infertile sites,
sometimes growing sparse stands in which 300-year-old trees are less
than 100 feet tall.

# Pests and Potential Problems

Squirrels, mice, moles, and birds consuming large amounts of Jeffrey
pine seeds. Some of the biological agents attacking Jeffrey pine are two
(2) needle diseases, a limb canker, as well as at least five (5)
different rusts, three (3) root diseases and various heart rots. The
worst disease of Jeffrey pine is caused by western dwarf mistletoe.

The Jeffrey pine beetle is common throughout its range, is the single
worst enemy of the Jeffrey pine and has caused extensive mortality in
mature trees. Other insects that damage Jeffrey pine include twig and
needle scales, defoliators, stem and twig borers, tip moths, and cone
and seed feeders.

# Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin)

Discovered in 1852 in the Shasta Valley of California by Scottish
botanist, John Jeffrey, Jeffrey pine was first classified as a variety
of ponderosa pine due to its physical resemblance and the similarity of
its geographic range. It is closely related to ponderosa pine, producing
wood of equal structure and quality.

Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil
Conservation Service) office for more information. Look in the phone
book under "United States Government." The Natural Resources
Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading "Department of
Agriculture."

# References

Conifer Specialist Group. 1998. *Pinus jeffreyi*. In: IUCN 2006. *2006
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.*
\<[www.iucnredlist.org](http://www.iucnredlist.org/)

Farjon, A. 2001. *World Checklist and Bibliography of Conifers.* 2nd
edition. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The Bath Press, Bath, England,
UK.

Jenkinson J. L.1990. *Pinus* *jeffrey*. Jeffrey Pine. in: Burns, R. M.
and Honkala, B. H., tech. coords. Silvics of North America. Volume 1,
Conifers. Washington, DC: USDA Forest Service; 1990; pp. 359-369.

Moerman. D**.** 1998. *Native American Ethnobotan.y* Timber Press.
Oregon. 1998 ISBN 0-88192-453-9.

# Prepared By: 

*Lincoln M. Moore*,

USDA NRCS NATIONAL Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

*Jeffrey D. Walker Wilson*,

# Earth Team Volunteer, USDA NRCS NATIONAL Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

# 

# Species Coordinator: 

# *Lincoln M. Moore*

USDA NRCS NATIONAL Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Edited: 22june06 lmm; 060803 jsp

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

*The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in
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orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases
apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of program information (Braille,
large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA\'s [TARGET
Center](http://www.usda.gov/oo/target.htm) at 202-720-2600 (voice and
TDD).*

*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or
TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.*

*Read about [Civil Rights at the Natural Resources Convervation
Service](http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/civilrights/).*