Some characteristics to distinguish between Pinus ponderosa and Pinus jeffreyi
| Plant part |
Pinus ponderosa
Ponderosa Pine |
Pinus jeffreyi
Jeffrey Pine |
| Needles (leaves) 3/bundle | green | bluish green to green |
| Seed cones | 9-15 cm long | 12.5-25 cm long |
| Dry cone-scales | prickles curve outward | prickles curve inward |
| New twigs, color | yellowish green to olive brown | purplish or bluish white to bluish green |
| Crushed twigs, odor | resinous, of orange or tangerine rind | not easy to describe, vanilla, pineapple, apple |
| Branches, old trees | distinctly stout, often bent, ends slightly upturned | slender, elongate, straight, ends distinctly upturned |