The Tree
Generally attaining a height of 30m and a diameter of 0.75m although occasionally it is much larger and taller.

The Timber
The wood varies considerably in colour; mature trees have a very thick, pale yellow sapwood, soft, non-resinous, uniform in texture, and similar to yellow pine (P. strobus). The heartwood is much darker, ranging from a deep yellow to a reddish-brown, and is considerably heavier than the sapwood. Resin ducts are fairly prominent on longitudinal heartwood surfaces, appearing as fine, dark brown lines. The average weight of the wood is about 480 kg/m3 when dried.

Drying
The wide sapwood is susceptible to fungal staining and care must be taken during air drying to ensure suitable piling. The timber dries rapidly and well, and since the sapwood is particularly valuable, anti-stain treatment is helpful.

Strength
Ponderosa pine grown in Canada has similar strength properties to those of European redwood (P. sylvestris) .but that grown in the USA is a little lighter in weight and some 15 per cent inferior in average strength to the Canadian wood.

Working Qualities
Good - The wood works easily and smoothly, and takes nails and screws well, glues satisfactorily and can be painted, although resin exudation may be troublesome. It is the most resinous of the Canadian commercial pines.