Ponderosa pine is the characteristic tree of the southern Interior of British Columbia. It is the largest of the western pine species, and is found on semi-arid plateaus and slopes in the southern Interior, sometimes in almost pure stands. At higher elevations it grows with Interior Douglas-fir. Ponderosa pine is a large-crowned tree with a straight trunk, usually about 25 to 30 metres tall, but sometimes reaching a height of 50 metres and a diameter of 2 metres. Ponderosa pine accounts for 1.3% of British Columbia’s total growing stock.