I've been trying to grow pinon pines (P. johannis, P. remota, P. edulis, P. maximartinezii), a couple white pine species (reflexa and now ayacahuite), and mexican pines (P. patula Ok so far) in texas for a while with some success, despite the fact that central texas is not generally a favorable region for pines. I was considering Pinus kwangtungensis. My part of texas is humid subtropical maybe warm temperate at relatively low elevation, like hunan province of China where this taxon is found. Soils are limestone derived and I understand that's the case in hunan as well. It seems like this one might me worth a shot. Has anyone seen it in doing well in a hot place in the states? Several nurseries have it available but I think they may be grafting one clone, I would rather have seedlings or seeds. It looks a lot like japanese white pine to me, which I wouldn't bother with here because I know it struggles in hot humid conditions. Am I wrong in thinking this one should be much more heat humidity tolerant? And I think I recall reading these asian white pines have some natural resistance to blister rust which has become a problem for reflexa. (I've never seen it but read it's now found another host that could extend it to my part of texas- Indian paint brush) I wonder if kwangtungensis or kwangtungensis x reflexa or ayacahuite might be a good central texas pine.
Worth a try, yes, though in the wild, P. kwangtungensis occurs at higher altitudes than you are at, so gets more rainfall and cooler summers. It therefore may not be a guaranteed success.
Well sure, there are no guarantees, except native species maybe. I'll try. It looks like a pretty tree
