Kings Canyon National Park Sierra Plants and Trees

A dominant upper montane pine on drier, granitic slopes; Jeffrey pine supports wildlife with seeds and nests and tolerates poorer soils. In Kings Canyon it commonly mixes with sugar and ponderosa pines above the valley floor.

Needles mostly in bundles of three, thick and stiff; bark breaks into dark, furrowed plates that often smell of vanilla/benzaldehyde when crushed. Cones have stout scales with a small prickle.

Common Confusions

• Ponderosa Pine Pinus ponderosa Jeffrey pine bark has puzzle-like plates that smell of vanilla or pineapple when scratched; ponderosa bark smells more resinous and has different cone and needle proportions.
• Sugar Pine Pinus lambertiana Sugar pine has very long pendulous cones and five-needle bundles; Jeffrey has shorter cones and needles usually in bundles of three.
• Lodgepole Pine Pinus contorta Lodgepole is typically a slimmer tree with smaller, often serotinous cones and shorter needles; Jeffrey is larger with thicker bark and distinct scent.