Seedling ID (was told it was a JBP)

[Walther]

Hello all,

In the photos attached are two seedlings. One I got on ebay and one I got from jonsteen.
The one on the right is from jonsteen and I know for a fact is a JBP. The one on the left is from an ebay buyer that says it is also a JBP.
does that look like a JBP to any of you?
Why do they look so different? And why does one have three leaves per bundle while the other has only two per? I have heard that some seedlings will have three leaves per bundle, is that true?

Thank you

 

[penumbra]

It could be seedling variability, which I suspect. It might be another pine, like a Japanese Red Pine, but at their present state of growth I think it is unlikely anyone will have a definitive answer. Good thing is they both look healthy. Give them as much sun as possible. I hope you get your answer.

 

[Walther]

It could be seedling variability, which I suspect. It might be another pine, like a Japanese Red Pine, but at their present state of growth I think it is unlikely anyone will have a definitive answer. Good thing is they both look healthy. Give them as much sun as possible. I hope you get your answer.

Thank you so much for your reply! I really appreciate it and thank you for the advice as well

 

[Shibui]

I can't make out the 3 needle bunches from the photos but there are a number of pines that do have 3 needles per bundle. JBP and JRP are 2 needle species and rarely have more so I'm pretty confident your 3 needle seedling is something other than JBP.
3 needle pines include: Ponderosa, Loblolly, Pitch and P. radiata. Spend a little time searching online to find the full list of 3 needle species.

 

[Walther]

I can't make out the 3 needle bunches from the photos but there are a number of pines that do have 3 needles per bundle. JBP and JRP are 2 needle species and rarely have more so I'm pretty confident your 3 needle seedling is something other than JBP.
3 needle pines include: Ponderosa, Loblolly, Pitch and P. radiata. Spend a little time searching online to find the full list of 3 needle species.

Theres a couple of 3 needle bunches in there as well as 2. The seller told me that when they are young sometimes they will have 3 needles bunches. I dont know enough to argue so I didnt.
But it did seem odd and I couldnt find any sources saying that it is not possible.
I will let them grow up a bit so I can better ID them I just hope they arent something like JWP bc they will surely die here.

 

[Shibui]

There can definitely be some odd looking foliage while the seedlings are in juvenile stages so you should give them time to get past that and settle down to proper adult foliage before making any final judgements. I have not looked closely enough at seedling JBP to notice if any have occasional 3s.
I doubt it is JWP. They seem to settle into bunches of 5 pretty quick and consistent.
I would also not discount the possibility of growing white pines in Houston. My initial try failed so I believed all the stories for many years. Then tried again and I've had 5 - 10 JWP growing here for over 10 years with winters just barely below freezing at night and Summer days well over 100F and very low humidity. Don't believe everything 'they' tell you.

 

[Potawatomi13]

Left tree has needle color of normal JBP. Right tree is less than normal green but ID is certain. I suspect both are JBP.

 

[Walther]

There can definitely be some odd looking foliage while the seedlings are in juvenile stages so you should give them time to get past that and settle down to proper adult foliage before making any final judgements. I have not looked closely enough at seedling JBP to notice if any have occasional 3s.
I doubt it is JWP. They seem to settle into bunches of 5 pretty quick and consistent.
I would also not discount the possibility of growing white pines in Houston. My initial try failed so I believed all the stories for many years. Then tried again and I've had 5 - 10 JWP growing here for over 10 years with winters just barely below freezing at night and Summer days well over 100F and very low humidity. Don't believe everything 'they' tell you.

I see. Interesting. Thank you!

 

[Walther]

Left tree has needle color of normal JBP. Right tree is less than normal green but ID is certain. I suspect both are JBP.

I guess time will tell as they say

 

[rutulus]

Theres a couple of 3 needle bunches in there as well as 2.

This is a bit of a wildcard, but shortleaf pine has mixed bundles of 2 and 3. I frequently find them like that.

 

[Walther]

This is a bit of a wildcard, but shortleaf pine has mixed bundles of 2 and 3. I frequently find them like that.

I actually thought that it may be a loblolly pine.