This tree grows up to 40 m (130 ft) tall, with a straight trunk and an open crown of upswept, candelabra-like branches. Though the typical height of this species is generally only 24-27 m (80-90 ft), with a spread of 7-9m (20-35 ft).It has thick, scaly, fissured bark with distinct patterns formed from color variations in red-brown and buff toned periderm. The shoots are stout and rough, while the winter buds are large and red-brown with white-fringed tips. Its adult leaves are slender, 15-30 cm (6-12 in) long needles in fascicles of three, bright green to yellow-green in color, and with fine stomata lines. The adult needles are retained for 1.5 to 3 years. The glossy chestnut brown cones arise in the spring from female flowers found on previous year's shoots.The cones are ovoid-conic, 10-23 cm (4-9 in) long, ripen two years after pollination to become chestnut-brown when mature. Seeds are blackish-brown with attached wings that are difficult to remove.
