Two-Needle Pine ID in Texas

[Maiden69]

Hi all, I spent the weekend at the Kalahari Waterpark Resort in Round Rock, TX, and noticed that they have 3 two-needle pines. I have been coming here twice a year and I saw them when they were freshly planted but I paid no attention to them. This time I parked close to them and while I was walking back to the entrance I noticed some off-green color foliage so I stopped and took a closer look. They are two-needle and the foliage looks similar to my JBP but I am not an expert, and I have never seen a large JBP in person. I took a few pics, as I was in a hurry at the moment. The bark on the large one is cracky, not plate-like, similar to alligator skin, and the off-green foliage was kinda powdery to the tough. Does anyone know what kind of pine it could be?

 

[Crazy Diamond]

By the blue juvenile needles and having two needles could Pinus pinea or Halepensis

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Pinus halepensis is a good choice for survival in Texas parking lot heat islands. That or pines is probably what the pine is.

 

[Potawatomi13]

Buds("hairy looking"), needles, juvenile growth appear as Italian Stone Pine, Italian Red Pine(pinea). However am thrown off by August/second growth flush ? A cone would tell for sure if present.

 

[Potawatomi13]

A lot of Afghan Pine (eldarica) have been planted in TX and also a possible. These however do poorly in any irrigated area as root problems develop.

 

[Maiden69]

Thanks for the replies.

By the blue juvenile needles and having two needles could Pinus pinea or Halepensis

I search those two, the halepensis seems to be a close match due to the needles. Stone, There are a lot of Stone pines in the area, but they all form a "broom" or "umbrella" type from very young, dropping lower branches rather quickly. The bark on this don't match either one, pinea or halepinsis... but it is a young tree and all the examples I found online for bark were mature trees. Needles are off to be an Afghan pine

I will try to look for cones next time we go there, this is our getaway place right now as the wife don't like to fly.

 

[Crazy Diamond]

I think the bark matches Halepensis or Eldarica more now that I see it in more detail, they have a whitish bark when young. Some people consider the Afghan pine just a subspecies of Halepensis they are very similar

 

[rockm]

My money is on Afghan pine. -Eldarica. Twistier needles.... More common in eastern Texas than Halepensis which is used in West Texas...

Texas A&M Forest Service - Trees of Texas - List of Trees

 

[Maiden69]

Most of the pics that I found for Afghan had a softer look to it, but I just found this website that has some juvenile foliage that looks similar.

You are being redirected...

And this site has a pic that resemble the young branching... so probably an eldarica.

Eldarica Pine

Botanical Name Pinus eldarica Also Known As Afghan Pine | Afghan Pine | Calabrian Pine | East Mediterranean Pine | Brutia Pine Specifications Plant Type Native From USDA Zone Light Needs Watering Needs Leaves Life Cycle Avg. Mature Size Growth Rate Bloom Time Flower Color...

cjgardeningcenter.com