Hello Palerider from first principles if it is s fomal japanese garden could be japanese black pine Pinus thunbergi but we would beed a close up of the needles and cones to verify
Bear in mind that this shape is not natural, but done by very careful pruning every spring over many decades
I would bet against Picea pungens in this instance. looks like a pine to me from the picture supplied.
Ya, I know about the shaping and pruning of Japanese gardens. I was also thinking it was a black pine, but wanted a heads up from the pros over here. Ron, I think your on to something about the Pinus pungens. I posted a pic that's small, but shows a wild one that has not been shaped or pruned. Thanks again for the help.
I wasn't suggesting that the pine in the Japanese garden was a Table Mountain pine, rather that a Table Mountain pine might produce the desired effect. Next step, if wanting a similar specimen for your garden would be to find out if that species will be likely to grow on your site.
Do you know a site that would define the zones in the US and what can grow where? Also I live in salt lake city, utah where pines are pretty hearty. So I'm think it could handle it. Just a guess tho, thanks again
Sunset WESTERN GARDEN BOOK covers your area, but I don't think you'll find Table Mountain pine in it. That species wasn't in the last edition, anyway (a new one just came out, which I don't have). You won't find a web site that can tell you what grows everywhere in the country, on all garden sites. Soils and exposures vary even on a single property, plus tens of thousands of kinds of plants are being sold and planted just here in the PNW. Current edition of WESTERN GARDEN BOOK discusses 8000 kinds of plants. You will have to combine web searches, including checking the site of your state extension service, any regional gardening books you may be able to find and other resources like botanical gardens and arboreta, maybe catalogs of nurseries situated in your state (including wholesale growers - if there is a college library nearby with a horticulture department they may actually have a file of these) and other resources you can discover to start getting a picture of what is possible there.
That's the kinda of info I was looking for ron. When it comes to fly fishing, snowboarding and 4 wheel driving in moab, utah I'm the guy to ask. I'm a person who loves to learn and take the pros advice. Thanks again for your support. Headed to las vegas now to play in a texas hold'em tourney this weekend. Late Shayne
