Seed #4 - Eight Cotyledons

So far, I've seen anywhere from four to eight cotyledons. These little guys are so aggressive to sprout, but in adulthood, they'll grow very slowly. In the wild, they may live thousands of years old, and stay relatively small.

No Shortage of Sprouts

If it turns out that all of my bristlecones sprout, I don't think I'll be surprised. I do think that the real challenge with these little guys is going to start once they've sprouted branches and a stronger root system. From everything I've read, they're not too welcoming to excessive watering, and aren't the beginner's tree. I think with (hopefully) more than twenty to work with, I'll have a few living xmas trees in the years to come.

Seed #1 - Seven Cotyledons

For as little as I expected from my bristlecones, they've really impressed. They shoot long, rigid radicles, sprout aggressively, and open up between five to eight cotyledons, all within a couple weeks.

Seed #16 - Outside Seed Sprout

As with seed #15, this little guy really surprised me. I had all but given up on the outside seeds, switching to the indoor baggie method for the rest of my bristlecone seeds. Apparently they're not doing as badly as I thought. I guess I shouldn't be surprised - bristlecones are known for drought tolerance and growing in unforgiving climates. It was interesting to see five cotyledons too - I haven't seen this with any of my other tree seedlings yet.

Seed #15 - Outside Seeds Sprout

I really didn't expect any of my outdoor bristlecones to sprout, since I've been watering them sporadically. I never hold out too much hope for sprouts with seed coats, but I'm still very excited to have any success at all outside.