Inner bark - raw or cooked[257]. Mucilaginous[105, 161, 213]. Best harvested in the spring[257]. The inner bark can be eaten fresh, but is more often dried, ground into a powder and either used as a thickener in soups or is mixed with flour for making bread etc[K]. Seed - raw or cooked[63, 64, 105, 226, 257]. Rich in oil, the seed has a slightly resinous flavour. Quite small, it is only about 8mm long[200]. The seed can be crushed into a meal and used in making bread etc[213]. The resin has been chewed as a gum[226, 257]. Young male cones have been chewed for the juice[257]. A vanillin flavouring is obtained as a by-product of other resins that are released from the pulpwood[200].

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


Ponderosa pine was employed medicinally by several native North American Indian tribes, who valued it especially for its antiseptic and vulnerary properties, using it to treat a range of skin problems, cuts, wounds, burns etc[257]. It was also valued for its beneficial effect upon the respiratory system and was used to treat various chest and lung complaints[257]. The turpentine obtained from the resin of all pine trees is antiseptic, diuretic, rubefacient and vermifuge[4]. 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[4]. 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 TB[4]. 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[4]. The branches are used in herbal steam baths as a treatment for muscular pains[257]. A decoction of the plant tops has been used in the treatment of internal bleeding and high fevers[257]. An infusion of the dried buds has been used as an eye wash[257].

A tan or green dye is obtained from the needles[168]. A yellow dye can be made from the pollen[226]. A blue dye can be made from the roots[257]. The needles contain a substance called terpene, this is released when rain washes over the needles and it has a negative effect on the germination of some plants, including wheat[201]. The branches are used as a strewing herb[99]. A decoction of the plant tops has been used as a conditioning wash to give a person a fair and smooth skin[257]. A fairly wind-tolerant tree, it can be used in shelterbelt plantings[200]. This tree is a source of resin, though it is not exploited commercially[64, 171]. Oleo-resins are present in the tissues of all species of pines, but these are often not present in sufficient quantity to make their extraction economically worthwhile[64]. The resins are obtained by tapping the trunk, or by destructive distillation of the wood[4, 64]. In general, trees from warmer areas of distribution give the higher yields[64]. Turpentine consists of an average of 20% of the oleo-resin[64] and is separated by distillation[4, 64]. Turpentine has a wide range of uses including as a solvent for waxes etc, for making varnish, medicinal etc[4]. Rosin is the substance left after turpentine is removed. This is used by violinists on their bows and also in making sealing wax, varnish etc[4]. Pitch can also be obtained from the resin and is used for waterproofing, as a wood preservative, adhesive etc[257]. It burns well and so has been used to make torches[257]. The root fibres have been used in making baskets[257]. Material for insulation and a tinder are also obtained from the tree[99]. The cones make a quick fire, whilst the scales from the trunk bark burn easily, give off no smoke and cool quickly[213]. Wood - light, strong, fine-grained and pleasantly aromatic, the wood can vary from soft to hard[1, 46, 82, 171, 226, 229]. An important lumber tree, it is used for making furniture, boxes, toys etc[1, 46, 82, 171, 226, 229], and it is also used for fuel[99]. For reasons that are unclear, some tree stumps contain high concentrations of pitch - this makes them very rot-resistant and inflammable and therefore useful for fence posts and kindling[226].

Special Uses