@Txhorticulture - your list of species sent me to wikipedia, as I was only familiar with a couple. So P. remota is the "Texas pinyon, or papershell pinyon" Seems to have shorter needles than P. edulis. Is that true? Might be a good one for bonsai depending on how short the needles get. 2 to 3 needles in a bundle according to wikipedia.
P. johannis - from your pictures this is an attractive color needle, and nice and short too. It should make a decent bonsai. An Arizona, NM, and Sierra Madre Mexico pinyon, distinct from P. edulis. 3-4 needles per bundle.
P. monophylla - single needle pinyon - that's a nice one. Its native range extends into southern Idaho, further north than any other pinyon, might be hardy into the warmer parts of zone 5. I might be able to winter it outdoors. Has me thinking.
P. edulis - this is the 'Colorado' pinyon - its range covers a pretty wide area, well into Colorado. I started seedlings of this summer of 2014. I wintered them in the well house, so I did not test their hardiness. Only had 6 or so out of 24 seeds survive into this summer, I like the bright blue of the seedlings. Hope they keep some of that color as they mature.
P. maximartinezii - I knew about this one - Big Cone Pinyon, a single pine cone can weigh up to 2 kg, a little over 4 pounds each. The pine nuts are larger than other pinyons also. Unfortunately it looks like it would not be very winter hardy, at least from its habit and range description. Probably okay with dry and cool, not likely to survive our wet and bitter cold. Pretty needles. And a pretty rare pine. Totally cool.
Those short needle versions of pinion, P. johannis and P. remota do look like they have definite bonsai potential. Edulis & monophylla too, though its needles are longer, they might survive my zone 5b winters.
Thanks for sharing. I learned something. Now I have another couple pines I will be keeping my eye out for.
