How about Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis) or Bristlecone Pine (Pinus aristata).

Resin

PS spellcheck: Scots Pine

Thanks Resin,

I can spell - typing is usually MUCH more of a problem LOL!! - I would have mangled 'pinus sylvestris' and I've seen the common name as both scots AND scotch, but I'll take it as noted that scots is the preferred spelling.

I do like bristlecone pines but aren't they EXTREMELY slow growing? Remember I'm old here, I'm all about leaving the world a better place, but selfish enough to be a bit impatient as well.

I've also wondered about lacebark pines - the botanical name is not finding its way into my leaky old brain at present - but there's a variety with 'silver' in the name that I've seen pictures of and really like. I wasn't sure how quickly it grew.

I'll check into the limber pine tho, many thanks. If I can just narrow my options into what's feasible I'll be making huge progress.
Thank again,
Lucy

p flexilis extra blue
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p.f. 'Cesarini Blue'
{{gwi:662268}}

Hi Lucy, The cultivar you're thinking of is Pinus bungeana 'Silver Ghost'. There are several on the market these days so take a look. You may also want to weigh in that there are plenty of super-beautiful seedlings of just the species of this tree. Any Lacebark Pine seedlings will have interest.

Take care,

Dax

I'd agree, Pinus bungeana is a good choice

Resin

Thanks all,
I'm using my computer at work during breaks and can't always check and reply to posts as soon as I'd like, so I appreciate your patience.

Great pictures Ken, I'm trying not to drool on my keyboard. How easy are these cultivars to find and where can I learn out more about them? Is there a good website/ database with this kind of info on conifers - zone hardiness, growth rate, site requirements, mature size, etc.? I've browsed the ACS website but maybe I wasn't looking in the right place? Adrian Bloom's book is great - but overwhelming, and doesn't list newer cultivars.

Dax & Resin, thanks for remembering Pinus bungeana 'Silver Ghost' for me, all I could think of was 'Silver Whispers' and I knew that wasn't it. I'm at the point where I recognize botanical names when I see them, but can't quite draw them up out of my grey matter at will yet. I'm much better at perennial plant latin, :) .
I saw a presentation Gary Wittenbaugh gave a few weeks ago and he had a slide of 'Silver Ghost' ,I do like that tree! BTW, if you ever get a choice to hear Gary speak, he's wonderful! I plan on picking his brain more as well.

But my major concern is how well does my site match what these plants need, as far as size and sun go? I'm afraid I'll fall in love with a plant that will struggle and I'd rather have common but perfectly healthy plant than an exotic one that's not.

One of the best ways I can think of to describe what's in my head is roughly than size and shape of a common lilac - I like the multi-stemmed look, which I think matches up well with pinus bungeana or maybe Pinus densiflora?? But then, how well will it do where I want it?

I want this to be a 'cornerstone' plant for my small garden, it'll be one of the bigger (if not biggest) conifers. I like to design small spaces to be cozy, one bigger plant to balance the small ones feels better to me than all tiny plants. I'm running on and on here, so I'll stop...

Thank you again everyone for your suggestions so far!

use the latin name in google.. and go to their IMAGE'S page ...

link below to the acs database... and search for the latin name or the cultivar name ...

mail order is available all over the place ... google will help with that.. or we can ...

but do me a favor ... plant something that will make your toes curl ... and cut it down in 10 years if it out grows the place .... rather than settle for something plain .. just because it will 'fit' ...

try girardsnursery.com for gold ghost [search for 'ghost' at their website] ... pricey .. but toe curling. .... here is the direct link:

http://www.girardnurseries.com/cgi-bin/cart.pl

good luck

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: acs database

"or maybe Pinus densiflora??"

This (as the natural full-size tree) has the same problems of susceptibility to pine wilt nematode that Scots Pine has. The popular dwarf and semi-dwarf cultivars of it usually escape the nematode because they don't get large enough to attract the beetle that transmits it, but they do, of course, grow slowly.

Resin

I guess I forget what you needed! lol

That 'Silver Ghost' will drive you wild so be careful. It has the exact appearance when multi-stemmed as a multi-stemmed lilac. My personal guess is that it grows in the range of 4-6" per year but who am I but a guy drueling as well.

Listen to Ken or Resin or me.

Hugs Lucy!

Dax

One thing to keep in mind is that pines love acidic conditions, and you said yours was alkaline.

Hi Lucy,

Both of these might get a little too large for your location, but when you mentioned an open growing pine with an Asian feel, I thought about Pinus parviflora 'Glauca'
{{gwi:662270}}
or some other dwarf cultivar of P. parviflora. Or, since you like the look of weeping juniper, how about a cultivar of Alaskan cedar, Cupressus nootkatensis:
{{gwi:662272}}
Others much more knowledgeable than I can comment how one of these might do on your site.

Have fun,
Kim

Here's a couple sites for you:

American Conifer Society (to find additional information):
American Conifer Society &(Conifer Database)

My Photos I've taken over the past six years:
Link To Photos

Have a good time kid.

Dax

Many, Many Thanks!!!

It's going to take me a while to sort through all this great information!

I guess my biggest worries are the part-sun location and mildly alkaline soil - but I've got a lot of ideas now and great places to snoop for more information. I'm searching lots of past posts on this forum as well. There's an amazing amount of information here and you all are the tops!!!
Lucy