Green in the summer and yellow in winter. Guess the burnt tips in the 2nd photo {last year} may be from the cold weather, none observed this year with a milder winter..
Re: Pinus contorta var. latifolia 'Chief Joseph' Yellow forms of P. mugo and P. sylvestris also have the nice feature of becoming more yellow with colder weather and less yellow with warmer.
Re: Pinus contorta var. latifolia 'Chief Joseph' Hi danc, It's grown about 25 cm {10"} taller in a year, third year in the ground from ,likely, a 2 year old potted graft. Not sure which rootstalk species was used. We are in a wet climate here and expect it would be slower in a dry area. No fertilizers are used.
I know about lodgepole pines tho not this one (it’s related to lodgepoles?) it’s really something to behold - thank you for showing us. i am curious so looked up more - « Discovered » in North Eastern Oregon, apparently there are some good pictures on this website showing height habit and attractive plant combinations —- tho the photo with flooded grassy lawn might not suite this pine Pinus contorta var. latifolia 'Chief Joseph' | plant lust Chief Joseph of the Nez Percé was a remarkable person — there is a huge power dam named for him (ironically, some may point out) on the mighty Columbia River (flows from Cdn Rockies through BC, over the border in to WA State then enters Pacific Ocean between WA & Oregon) Chief Joseph - Wikipedia
There are some good leads in the link Georgia Strait provided about where to obtain the 'Chief Joseph' pine but I checked Iseli Nursery because I know Dinter Nursery in Duncan will often order trees in specially from them. (Got my lovely Malus transitoria 'Golden Raindrops' that way.) Iseli does grow it so now I have to decide whether to order one or not. It would be perfect for a rock garden, growing as slowly as it does. There's always a risk though when you plant a yellowing tree that people may think it looks more sick than beautiful - especially in a garden like mine where too many plants are sun-scorched and ailing.
I recommend it. It’s actually green during the hottest part of the summer and turns golden when the temperature drops. It is very drought and heat tolerant and easily handled the 116° F days this last summer after being planted in spring of this year. Here is the picture from the nursery before I purchased it in March 2021.
Amazing - I'm very impressed. On the Iseli Nursery website (Pinus contorta ‘Chief Joseph’ - Iseli Nursery), it says that Pinus contorta 'Chief Joseph' grows 3 to 6 inches a year. It doesn't actually say 'var. latifolia' but must be the same tree. Now to see if I can order one . . . Thanks to @chimera for the introduction and @Worldly_Wrangler for the recommendation.
i like this one too! Pinus contorta ‘Taylor’s Sunburst’ - Iseli Nursery I wonder if these resist the infamous pine beetle i thought that is what decimates swaths of pine in the Pac NW of North America