Dax, the one I bought is contorted, so it wont be exactly an upright. I'm hoping it will be an interesting component of my garden. I'm excited about it. Trying to decide what to pair it with. We got her in the ground today. What a great way to spend Easter----getting a sunburn in the garden. :-)

A couple specimens of mine, a bit more established then Dave's and growing in their optimum environment. It will be interesting to note the growth rate over the years compared to specimens in other climates. -Will

Maybe your sand helps a lot Ken, seriously! (at least temporarily - many more years than folks with humidity and humus rich soils will have healthy specimens) but there will come a day that the humidity will win in your sand pit as well. The native climates don't match is the key issue. Douglas fir is prone to needle diseases (big-time) as are most of the native Colorado conifers. Picea pungens will thrive for only so long here. Pinus reflexa (sold as flexilis) also has it's time limit. I'm sure aristata will fall in the same category as will Pinus monophylla or Pinus edulis; Heck maybe even engelmann spruce... And whatever else I may be missing. Dax P.s. Sara's profile does say IL but Indiana isn't going to be a lick different.

It's dead common here :-)) Iseli carries it so any nursery that has a relationship with them (most better ones do) should be able to bring it in for you. Also listed as a "special order" plant by Oakland nursery and they have 4 garden centers locations in OH. https://www.oaklandnursery.com