On 9/9/04 21:47, in article , "Nick
Maclaren" wrote:


Has anyone grown this? I am looking for a fast-growing, interesting,
medium-sized tree to use as a sight screen. I want it to cast a
fairly light shade, too. This would be ideal, if it will thrive.

My concern is the recommendation for damp. The soil can get very
dry in summer, though it can pretty well guarantee to get down to
damp soil if its roots run deep enough (only a couple of metres).
I had a complete failure with a Salix caprea because of this, and
it causes a lot of trouble to some shallow rooted plants.

My other ideas are Quercus coccinea or a suitable crab apple, but
the problem with the latter is finding any that aren't grafted :-(
Other suggestions welcome.

Nick, we grow Halesias here and some of them have hybridised. We think they
are *very* good value because they're light, graceful and flower
comparatively late. Our garden varies between bone dry and absolutely
sodden, depending on weather - it can go sodden in a matter of days and bone
dry in a matter of a week or two. About 3 weeks ago, someone asked to have
a marquee on our lawn for a private memorial party and we had to ask them to
use a small lawn as the big lawn was so wet that our feet were skidding on
it. Now, it is so dry that it's cracking open. In a bed at the very end of
that lawn are two Halesias. Up in the car park bed, which is much more free
draining, there is another, flowering its socks off.
Personally, I'd be inclined to say give it a try and water it for the first
couple of years which is standard advice anyway, as you know.
--

Sacha