In most of the tree's habitat, rain falls mostly in summer, but in the state of Veracruz, precipitations are spread year round and the climate is very wet.

Ocote wood is yellowish-brown white, with the heartwood being light brown, hard, heavy and used for construction.

The resin is so flammable that a cut branch will burn as a torch emitting black smoke when ignited; for this reason, it is very common in Mexico to use ocote wood as a fire starter for campfires and barbecues.

The cities of Ocotlán in Jalisco Mexico and Ocotal in Nicaragua derive their names from this tree.

Trees planted in New Zealand and New South Wales, Australia near sea level have done very well.