Operative phrase "in a natural setting" - same habit may not necessarily be seen in most cultivated settings.

Regarding the pungens specifically there is actually a history of individual planted specimens being present here and there on properties way over here in my area. The usual mode for these examples is a single trunk with a low broadly spreading, very rapidly tapering head of long branches producing a somewhat octopine appearance.

Jack pine actually has a history of being used for decorative planting here also. But shortleaf pine is an extreme rarity for us.

"Jack pine actually has a history of being used for decorative planting here also."

That's interesting. I can't recall ever seeing a seedling planted in a garden setting around here.

NJ State Nursery along with several other state nurseries carry shortleaf pine seedlings. I imagine the main focus is conservation plantings. If I were landscaping a beach house or rustic vacation house I would not think twice about using this species. The idea being plant something that looks "at home". Notice the extensive native range.

It does have a large native range, and I wonder if the trees I saw in SE Ok grow differently than those in Alabama or New Jersey?

The other noticeable thing about this tree is how few cultivars it has produced. Most sites don’t list any, but I’ve got to believe they’re out there.

Nice. I have one of these, supposedly: https://www.google.com/search?q=pinus+hwangshanensis&source=lnms&tbm=isch

Although, whether it's true to name remains to be seen, given the pattern we've seen of seeds of rare Asian conifers being mislabeled.

Beng I assume you must have been to Sugarloaf Mountain at some time (the little one in MD LOL)...there used to be some picturesque pines up there.

Embo, I saw some pics long ago of (strangely) quite a few P. pungens planted in an Idaho condo-complex -- all healthy, of medium size and spreading-form as you mention.

Davidrt -- been past that mountain many times, but never visited -- always told it was privately owned. I got the "tough, picturesque pines on rocky outcrops habitat" in my admiration as there were quite a few near me & even on my lot in southwest VA.

Here's one of my P. pungens w/a clawed cone on the trunk.

Add one more -- first "tree" to bloom here in oak/hickory/pine forest -- Allegheny Serviceberry - Amelanchier laevis.

Don't be knocking Jack pine. :-)

I spent many years in close proximity to them.

Beautiful trees in lots of ways.

So, you do know Jack. They all have their place. :)

Ben, nice spring pic of the pines and serviceberries. I saw a few of them on my trip south, but a lot more of this:

Beng - OT but before COVID it was freely open to visitors and a popular spot for day trippers from DC. I discovered it in the oddest way. In the late 90s was cresting a hill in Tyson's Corner on a clear fall day - Tyson's being the highest spot in Fairfax County at > 500 ft - and spotted a little mountain off in the distance. Because it is a "monodnock" it looks unconnected to any other mountains. I went home, pulled out a map, drew a line starting at that road in Tysons and realized what I must be seeing!

As a friend living in Boulder Colorado said at the time, lampooning my excitement, "I would have to drill down 4000 ft. to be at the level of that mountain" LOL.

It's hard for me to tell the difference between pitch pine and short leaf pine here in southern NJ. I'm not a pine specialist at all, just stating they have a similar habit when growing in a pine forest, whereas other conifer species stand out more.

Yeah, davidrt, there are a couple "monodnocks" out in the Piedmont area of Virginia east of their Blue Ridge in a number of places.

Skip1909, they are indeed closely related and can hybridize. Add very similar pond pine of the south (but my pond pine shown below grows fine here further north) and there's more ID difficulties.