Wood Species Guide
Lodgepole Pine
Pinus contorta
Also called: Shore Pine (coastal form), Tamarack Pine, Black Pine, Jack Pine (regional, not true jack pine); sold as PP/LP and SPF lumber
About the name “Lodgepole Pine”
In parts of the West, lodgepole pine is called tamarack or jack pine, but true tamarack is a larch and true jack pine is Pinus banksiana. Beetle-killed lodgepole with blue streaks is sold as blue pine or denim pine.
What Lodgepole Pine looks like
Heartwood is a light yellowish to pale reddish tan, and the sapwood is nearly white. Wood from beetle-killed trees often carries blue-gray fungal streaks.
Grain and texture
Straight grain with a fine, even texture. The tree grows tall and slender, so boards often have many small knots.
Working Lodgepole Pine: planing, cutting and gluing
Easy to cut and machine. Small knots are common and can chip out on the planer. It glues, nails and screws well, and it turns into tidy log-home timbers and posts.
Finishing Lodgepole Pine: oil, film finishes and epoxy
Use a conditioner or gel stain to avoid blotching. Seal knots with dewaxed shellac. Blue-stained wood looks great under a clear coat or epoxy; just make sure it is fully dry and seal coat first so the stained, porous areas don't bubble.
Durability, stability and Florida humidity
Low decay resistance and susceptible to insects. The blue stain in beetle-kill wood is cosmetic and does not weaken it. In Florida, keep it indoors in air conditioning and finish every face.
Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop
Lodgepole is mostly framing lumber, log homes and fence rails, but blue-stained beetle-kill boards make striking paneling, shelves and accent walls. Pair blue pine with clear or tinted epoxy for a fun accent. It is too soft for heavy-wear tabletops. We don't stock it, but ask us and we can often source it.
Common uses for Lodgepole Pine
Construction lumber, log homes, posts, rails, paneling (including blue-stained pine), plywood and pulpwood.
Sustainability and CITES status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices. Listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Large areas were killed by mountain pine beetle, and much of the salvage becomes blue-stained lumber.
Safety and toxicity
- Skin irritation
- Respiratory / asthma
Reactions are uncommon. Pine dust and resin can irritate skin and airways in some people.
- In the shop
- Dust collection and a mask when sanding
- Food contact
- Not recommended for cutting boards, bowls and utensils
General information, not medical advice. See a doctor if you have a reaction.
Pine dust and resin can cause skin rashes or asthma-like symptoms in some people. Use dust collection and a mask when sanding.
Lodgepole Pine in stock now
Ask us. We can often source it.
We don't have Lodgepole Pine listed online right now, but new slabs and lumber come in all the time and not everything makes it to the website. Tell us what you're building and we'll check our racks and suppliers.
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