My choice would be Pinus monophylla (Single-leaf Pinyon); well adapted to the climate, and very nice glaucous foliage.

Resin

thanks alot for the suggestion. that tree seems to fit into what I am looking for. that tree was not in my book as are so many. that will be option number 2 or maybe option 1. I will have to research this tree some more. I like the form of this tree in this pic.
http://conifers.org/pi/pin/monophylla1.jpg

But I have seen pics of it in other forms as well. Dose this tree tolerate pruning well? is it widely available? I will look arround and research it some more. thanks for the suggestion. I would never have found this tree without it. Jason

It isn't very widely sold. Best place to ask for sources might be native plant societies in the states where it grows naturally - Idaho, Nevada, Utah, California. But also try places like ForestFarm, they might stock it.

Another one you might want to look into: Pinus aristata (Rocky Mts Bristlecone Pine). More easily avalable than P. monophylla, should be easy to get.

Resin

well although I do like that tree I am still leaning tword the Pinus Densflora 'umbraculifera' although I do have till spring to deside. that Pinus monophylla might not do so well in my Z5 as I am in the northern part of the state and am in a more like Z5A climate. some sites show it as a Z5 tree and some show it as a Z6 tree and if you look where it grows naturally it is more of a Z6 tree. the Pinus Densflora 'umbraculifera' is good down to Z4 so I know I will be safe for that tree. I have attached a url pic of basicly what I want my tree to eventually look like. I have been trying to find this tree online and have found it but the biggest I found was 1G. size. I was hopeing to find it in a bigger size perhaps 3 feet tall. I amnot sure how many gallon size this would be I am thinking 5G. dose any one know where I can find these trees in this size online? I may just have to look arround locally in the spring but something tells me I won't find what I am looking for as a large selection is not available arround here locally.

Here is a link that might be useful:

Pinus monophylla is solidly zone 5, some parts of its range even zone 4; P. aristata is also zone 4, probably even 3.

My one concern about Pinus densiflora is that it is adapted to higher rainfall and humidity than you get in eastern WA: I'd not rely on its being very drought resistant.

Resin

thanks that is great info. I will look into that more. as for rain fall at least I am in the northern part of the state which is much better than the souther part which is almost desert. we do get plenty of rain fall in the spring and fall. just not the summer. I was thinking of adding a automatic watering drip system in as I will need this for the two Japanese maples I am going to plant at the same time. I think I would only need to run this watering system during the dry hot days of the summer. I never considered hunidity though. not much I can do about that. the norther part of eastern washington has much better humidity than the souther part. I never read much on the humidity requirements of these trees. Is the Densiflora that sensitive to low humidity. I think we only have low humidity during the couple of hottest months of the summer. I will look into those other tree's to see if I can find them. Do you know any good online sources. I am hoping I can find some larger trees to start with so I do not have to wait 10+ years to have a tree 10+ feet tall. I am am also looking for a tree of intermediate growth rate. which is another reason I liked the Densiflora 'umbraculifera'. I will research those other pins you mentioned some more so I know more about them befor I deside. at least I have all winter to deside. Jason

well my research into these trees results in mixed info on each depending where I look. but all three look promising. but another thing I have looked at is the slow growth rate of all three. it was hard to find growth rates in inches. but all three was listed as slow. but slow could be any where from 1 to 6" per year. I would prefer a tree that grows an intermediate growth rate of 6 to 8 inches per year. if it only grows 1 to 2 inches a year as I read the bristle cone dose it will be 20+ years till I get a actual tree. I am wanting a smaller tree but not a shrub for 20 years. and I thought I read somewhere that the Pinus densiflora 'Umbraculifera' had a intermediate growth rate but I am thinking I must have been reading on the Pinus densiflora not the Umbraculifera. well I am off to search some more any info on growth rates would be greately appreciated as it seems hard info to find. I know growing conditions effect growth rated but average numbers are helpfull. thanks Jason

Table mountain pine (Pinus pungens) is a possibility, tho not native to the US west. It can scratch out a living in xeric sites here in the east, but remains small (20-30'), irregular & branchy in such conditions. Forestfarm sells good-quality seedlings of these.

any one know more about the growth rates of these trees. I found mixed results on the net espesially on the Pinus densiflora 'Umbraculifera' I think some sites confust this with the Pinus densiflora 'Umbraculifera compacta' which I believe is a dwarf version of the tree. I really like the bristlecone pine mentioned but every thing I have read about this tree says it grows extremely slow. 1 to 2 inches per year which is too slow for me unless I could find me a 8 foot tree to start with. I didn't find much on the growth rate of the Pinus monophylla except slow. slow could mean 1 to 2 inches or is could mean 5 to 6 inches per year which I could live with. any more info in this aria would be greatly appreciated. as for my percipitation and temps we average more than an inch of percipitation per month with the exception of the summer months which I could add suppliment water. I have provided a link of weather conditions where I live. I am still leaning tword the Pinus densiflora 'Umbraculifera'or the Pinus densiflora if the Umbraculifera grows too slow. I am thinking I would like a tree that grows at a intermediat rate of 6 to 8 inches per year. and dose not get too tall. here is a link to info on my weather in the aria I live. it dose not mention humidity. I am not sure how important the humidity is for the Pinus densiflora. Jason

Here is a link that might be useful: my weather

well I do like that Pinus aristata. I have been considering adding another small dwarf tree over next to my pond. I think this may be the ideal choice as it has such a slow growth rate I will be dead before it ever gets too big for my yard. and I read that this tree keeps its needles for 10 years which between the slow growth rate and keeping its needles for 10 years. I think this tree would not drop alot of folege in my pond. plus I will plant it far enough from my pond that most of the folege ends up on the ground anyways. at least untill it gets big in 30 or 40 years.

well after further research. I turned up much differernt results as to the growth rates of this tree. Pinus aristata. my first search turned up many sites that stated a vary slow growth rate. and one site stated a 1 to two ingh growth rate per year. then I did further research and found that people had a growth rate of 6 to 8 inches per year. that is a big difference. can any one clear this up. if it grows at a rate of 6 to 8 inches I would consider this tree as my main tree for my yard. otherwise I am still leaning tword the Pinus Densiflora.

Both growth rates are within the range of variation (and the same applies to P. densiflora, too!). On poor soil or in a very exposed situation, you'll get slower growth; on good soil and a sheltered but sunny position, you'll get faster growth.

Resin

Well sense my trees will be growing in conditions in between good and poor I am safe to expect a growth rate some where in between. my trees will be planted off the northeast and north west sides of my house which will only give them full sun about 1/4 to 1/3 of the daylight hours. I am not sure how good my soil is, as I have not had it tested. I would suspect somwhere between good and bad. Many trees grow well arround my neighborhood including pines. maple trees grow like weeds in and arround the edges of my house even though non of my close neighbors have a maple the seeds still seem to find there way into my yard and grow like weeds. so I suspect my soil is to their liking. and I can ad supplemental water in the summer to improve the conditions for the Pinus densiflora. so given the conditions of somewhere between Ideal and poor I would guess at growth rate of arround 4 to 5 inches per year from the Pinus aristata. and 6 to 8 inches per year from the Pinus densiflora. I am still undesided, but may still get one of each. Thanks for the info Resin.

Hi, some pictures of my about 30 years old Pinus densiflora Umbraculifera..., If you select only one S shape trunk..., you have to wait some 20 years....
Jan wbgarden

Here is a link that might be useful: Dwarf conifers garden