Commented: Pinyon Pines for Iowa?It will take at least 15-20 years until the first cones appear, and crops are not consistent... I would suggest P. monophylla and P. edulis...
Commented: Spruce, tamarack, or ?C. deodar is on of the most resilient species I know... they can tolerate heat/drought very well...
Also, it happens to be one of the most variable species, imho..... Needle length, color, branch conf...
Commented: top heavy firOK, your are right, still pinyon/juniper country there....
Smivies describes a very good way to tell them apart, but it is even easier if you have cones. Spruce cones are pendulous and do not disinte...
