Juniperus depeana. I haven't seen one in a cultivated setting. But Ive been interested in that species for a while - I've looked into them and done a little research.

But first to answer your question - I don't think you would have any trouble growing them, They are native to the western part of our great state and mexico. If you were going to have a problem (in the context of a landscape specimen) it would probbaly be too much water. Here in San Antonio some people have the native juniper (ashei I think) in their yards. I've heard of them perishing when homeowners water the yard too much. But then again When I was a kid we had a huge one in our yard and its an indestructible weed in my opinion. Also, for a while people tried Afghan pines - native to very arid region - same problem - eventually too much water and they die.

Where did you get or find the seeds? I would like to try some if they are the "pachyphlaea" variety. I think that's the blue form. much more desireable in my opinion. There are also at least a handful of cultivated varities - inluding one withches broom - but good luck finding them.

Speaking of Mexican trees - Im also considering trying pinus pseudostrobus - mexican smooth bark pine.

tcharles26,
Do a web search for : Plants of the Southwest. They have packets of 50 seeds. I've started Arizona Cypress from their little seed packets for the last 2 years. Get about 5 seeds out of the 50 to germinate.
Unsure what variety of Alligator Juniper they have.
I've not seen any of Alligators as pot plants. Natives of Texas (or something like that) outside of Kerrville might carry them as they have a lot of the unusual, but don't know when I'm going that way. Keep us up-dated if you try the mexican pine. Always on the look-out for another conifer that will grow well in this area.
I planted 6 Texas or Remota pinyon pines two years ago. Two are still living. Can see why they don't grow wild in the Waco area.

The pines reccomended most often here, I just looked this up not long ago, are the aleppo pine (halepensis) and japanese black (thunbergii) and italian stone pine, (pinus pinea.) I wonder what other ones would work. Anyone else have ideas? Only the japanese black has garden varities available and so youll need some space for the others. I cannot find seeds for the mexican smooth bark pine, or a plant for that matter.

If Mexico wasn't so lawless these days it might be cool to go collect conifers / seeds there , but even if you survived the trip - homeland security might not let you back across.

Also try Pinus remota (Texas Pinyon), Pinus brutia, Pinus leiophylla subsp. chihuahuana, Pinus engelmannii, Pinus arizonica, and others from northern Mexico.

For junipers, J. flaccida is much nicer than J. deppeana. Very attractive with its gracefully arched and pendulous branching.

      "If Mexico wasn't so lawless these days it might be cool to go collect conifers / seeds there , but even if you survived the trip - homeland security might not let you back across"

Mexico isn't that bad! I'd have no worries about going on a return trip there, if only I could afford it. Agree that you might have problems getting seed back, though it would be with APHIS not homeland security.

Resin

You will be surprised how Mexico looks in reality....just don't go to the border cities. As resin said, you will have problems getting back if they catch you with any type of seeds.
I have several juniperus deppeana and they grow faster than I thought, in my opinion nicer than cupressus arizonica. I have seen some specimens over 15 m, with a trunk dia. of almost 1 m, with their beutiful alligator like bark. Extensively used in Mexico for fencing, more durable than pine. I will try to post some pics later

osprey

I too have had an interest in this species for a long time, but have been unable to find anyone selling it in the mail order nuresery trade. I found a couple of places listing it, but it's been unavailable every time I've checked with them. I've seen it growing wild in relatively high altitudes in New Mexico where locals told me temperatures had been down to -20F before, so I think it's probably more cold hardy than many sources say(which I think they are basing these hardiness clames soley on where the tree grows in the wild and not through any cultivation data).

Just a note, Alligator Juniper is native across a wide are of New Mexico and Arizona(var. pachyphlaea), as well as Northern Mexico. There's only one very small area in West Texas where they grow native. I think it's the variety var. sperryi, which only something like half a dozen individuals are known in the wild in the Davis Mountains. I also think some believe it to be a hybrid with flaccida and it doesn't have the Alligator like bark of the other varieties.(flaccida doesn't have the Alligator like bark either)

tcharles26, I'd also think that Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum(from West Texas or adjacent Mexico or New Mexico), Pinus ponderosa var. arizonica, Pinus strobiformis and Pinus ayacahuite might all do well for you there.

Lastly, I agree there are many beautiful, relatively safe areas of Mexico. But on the other hand most of the big cities in the Northern 1/2 of Mexico have large areas full of banditos who'd look at a foreigner with dollar signs in their eyes. Most all of the smaller towns and cities though tend to be quite safe and full of very nice people. Many rural areas also tend to be quite safe, and the big cities down South tend to be safer as well. At least this has been my experiences in Mexico. But if you have a good idea of what you are doing and stay away from obviously dangerous areas I've found it to be fairly safe. Then again if you're crossing the border at Ciudad Juarez, you're taking your life into your own hands! he he Lastly, I've heard quite a few strange stories of Homeland Security, APHIS, and the Border Patrol confiscating seeds etc. Then again, if you want to make sure your seeds make it across the border, I think you have a much higher chance of giving them to a local Mexican to get them across the border, since they have a higher success rate than US citizens doing this. he he (yes, being very sarcastic here!)

One other problem I've noticed with J. deppeana (both in Mexico and Arizona) is what appears to be a very high infestation rate of the cones ('berries') by insect larvae - very hard to find any where the seeds weren't eaten out. This could be one reason for its low availability.

Resin