• Ponderosa pines grow across much of southwestern New Mexico.Larry Mayer/Creatas/Getty Images
  
  The climate of southwestern New Mexico is generally dry and sunny, with temperatures that vary wildly according to elevation and time of year. A number of drought-hardy pine trees can survive and indeed thrive in this part of the state. But due to extreme variations in geography, trees that flourish at one location in southwestern New Mexico may not grow only a few miles away. Check a hardiness zone map of the state to help you decide which pines are right for your backyard.
  
  

Ponderosa Pine

• Ponderosa pines can reach heights up to 150 feet. The tree grows in an open, pyramid-like formation and sports long green needles and large, prickly red-brown pine cones. The bark is furrowed and becomes more irregular as the tree ages. Valued for its lumber, Ponderosa pine is highly adaptable and also widely planted for landscape uses. It grows best in well-drained soil and is very drought-tolerant, but does not thrive in the wind and heat of a desert environment. It occurs in elevations up to 9,000 feet and rarely suffers from insects or diseases.
  
  

Douglas Fir

• Douglas fir is the largest native evergreen in New Mexico, reaching potential heights of 200 feet. It has a large, natural range across the western United States, occurring at elevations between 5,000 and 10,000 feet. Douglas fir grows in a cone-like shape and has soft, dense needles. It can tolerate full sun or shade, and Douglas fir will grow in almost any soil, provided that it is well-drained; too little water is better than too much. Widely used as an ornamental or Christmas tree, Douglas fir is also a timber tree and does not experience pests and disease problems.
  
  

Pinyon Pine

• Several Pinyon pines live throughout New Mexico, including Mexican Pinyon and Colorado Pinyon. These pine trees are typically small, reaching about 35 feet in height. They grow at elevations between 4,000 and 10,000 feet. Pinyons are bushy evergreens with short trunks and stiff needles from 1 to 1 1/2 inches long. They produce edible "pine nuts" that can be harvested in autumn. These pine trees do well in a variety of soil and moisture conditions, though rocky, gravelly, dry soils are best. Tolerant of drought and cold, Pinyon pine trees will not tolerate excessive water. They are commonly planted as screening trees and windbreaks.