Ideas for "unique" small landscape tree
 

Hi,

Since we are getting close to spring I thought that I seek some ideas from
the group. I would like to solicit ideas for a small tree (20-25' max.) to
be placed in my front yard. A little history..... The house was previously
owned by a landscaper and he has already planted a nice assortment of trees:
japanese maples (coral bark, red laceleaf, green laceleaf), corkscrew
willow, river birches, holly trees, magnolia, pin oak, zelkova, mostly in
the backyard. The front yard has wonderful shrub and flower beds, but I
would really like to fill one spot near the driveway (= no sappy trees).....
I want to find something that is rare and unique (a showstopper). While I
am not looking to spend a bundle, I would definitely pay more to acquire
such a tree. Any ideas? Something that would fluorish in SW Wake County.
One tree I am thinking about is a Chinese flame tree.....

A couple of showstoppers are

Prunus mume which blooms very early on bare branches and with a fabulous
scent. Do a google search and check this for particulars:

hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/PRUMUMA.pdf

Sophora Japonica (but which will get big), that has apricot colored
foliage in autumn which smells of burned sugar.

Donna

Jeff Springer wrote:

Hi,

Since we are getting close to spring I thought that I seek some ideas from
the group. I would like to solicit ideas for a small tree (20-25' max.) to
be placed in my front yard. A little history..... The house was previously
owned by a landscaper and he has already planted a nice assortment of trees:
japanese maples (coral bark, red laceleaf, green laceleaf), corkscrew
willow, river birches, holly trees, magnolia, pin oak, zelkova, mostly in
the backyard. The front yard has wonderful shrub and flower beds, but I
would really like to fill one spot near the driveway (= no sappy trees).....
I want to find something that is rare and unique (a showstopper). While I
am not looking to spend a bundle, I would definitely pay more to acquire
such a tree. Any ideas? Something that would fluorish in SW Wake County.
One tree I am thinking about is a Chinese flame tree.....

Harry Lauder's Walking Stick. Visual interest when the tree is bare.
*smile*

If I had space for a(nother) tree in my front yard, I'd put one in
immediately.

--
Susan
shsimko[at]duke[dot]edu

| Jeff Springer wrote:
|
| Hi,
|
| Since we are getting close to spring I thought that I seek
some ideas from
| the group. I would like to solicit ideas for a small tree
(20-25' max.) to
| be placed in my front yard.

One of my personal favorites is a Catalpa tree. It produces
bunches of very showy, white, orchid-like flowers. Go to Logan's
in April to see the one there.
Raleighgirl

Jeff Springer wrote:

Hi,

Since we are getting close to spring I thought that I seek some ideas from
the group. I would like to solicit ideas for a small tree (20-25' max.) to
be placed in my front yard. A little history..... The house was previously
owned by a landscaper and he has already planted a nice assortment of trees:
japanese maples (coral bark, red laceleaf, green laceleaf), corkscrew
willow, river birches, holly trees, magnolia, pin oak, zelkova, mostly in
the backyard. The front yard has wonderful shrub and flower beds, but I
would really like to fill one spot near the driveway (= no sappy trees).....
I want to find something that is rare and unique (a showstopper). While I
am not looking to spend a bundle, I would definitely pay more to acquire
such a tree. Any ideas? Something that would fluorish in SW Wake County.
One tree I am thinking about is a Chinese flame tree.....

Yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea, formerly called C. lutea) matches your
qualifications -- it's rare, unique, small, and a showstopper when in
bloom. It has great beech-like bark for winter interest. One of our most
ornamental southeastern natives. The main disadvantage is it's slow
growing - it'll be 7 years or so before it blooms, but it's worth the wait.
I'm not sure where you can buy it, but Niche Gardens has a mature tree you
can look at.

In article ,
wrote:
There is also the Empress Tree (Which will also get huge, but seems
to be pretty slow about it). Look for the purple blooms along I85
and I40 near hillsborough in spring. Currenty they are the bare trees
with what look like clusters of fruit or nuts the size of walnuts.

The Empress Tree, also known as Princess Tree or Royal Paulownia
(Paulownia tomentosa) is not a small tree (60 to 70 feet), and is also
not slow growing (up to 15 feet in one season!). They are also weak
trees and are prone to dropping branches as they get larger.

But more importantly, the Royal Paulownia is considred an invasive
exotic (and is listed by the NC Botanical Garden as one of the most
troublesome exotics in the area). They are fast growing and outcompete
native species, and can produce up to *20 million* seeds per year
which end up everywhere. That's why they are so common along the
highways around here.

http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/pato1.htm
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/si.../tomentosa.htm
http://www.ncbg.unc.edu/plants-to-avoid-Chapel-Hill.htm


How about a nice native deciduous holly, instead?

--
Steve

Jeff Springer wrote:
corkscrew willow
This one needs special care. If it's like mine, it will get lots of
small, metallic, blue-black bettles on it, and they will "lace" the
leaves. Sevin spray will get 'em, but ya' gotta be persistent.

On Tue, 25 Jan 2005 10:37:23 -0500, "Jeff Springer"
wrote:

Hi,

Since we are getting close to spring I thought that I seek some ideas from
the group. I would like to solicit ideas for a small tree (20-25' max.) to
be placed in my front yard. A little history..... The house was previously
owned by a landscaper and he has already planted a nice assortment of trees:
japanese maples (coral bark, red laceleaf, green laceleaf), corkscrew
willow, river birches, holly trees, magnolia, pin oak, zelkova, mostly in
the backyard. The front yard has wonderful shrub and flower beds, but I
would really like to fill one spot near the driveway (= no sappy trees).....
I want to find something that is rare and unique (a showstopper). While I
am not looking to spend a bundle, I would definitely pay more to acquire
such a tree. Any ideas? Something that would fluorish in SW Wake County.
One tree I am thinking about is a Chinese flame tree.....

One that I'd like to plant is a Forest Pansy Redbud, which has
striking purple leaves most of the year, great fall color, and amazing
flowers in the spring. Tops out at around 20 feet, but takes a while
to do it. I understand it does well here without a lot of work, too,
although I haven't seen that many around. Here's a pic from a
wholesaler to give you an idea. It's about halfway down the page.

http://www.freedomtreefarms.com/forest_pansy.htm

MAC

Hi Jeff,

You've gotten some wonderful suggestions here. I like your choice as well. One other tree that I'd like to suggest is the Sourwood - Oxydendrum arboreum. It has 4 season interest and offers food to wildlife as well. It gives a beautiful fall display and is so pretty when in bloom as well as fragrant flowers and interesting bark. My favorite tree.
http://www.aragriculture.org/horticu...s/Sourwood.asp
http://www.plantbio.ohiou.edu/epb/in...,%20winter.htm

With no disrespect to the posters who suggested the Paulowinia and the Catalpa, these are both considered invasive and both are very messy trees. Here's a site where you can get all kinds of helpful info on trees including aspects such as roots lifting sidewalks, tree litter, invasive potential, etc.

http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/index.htm

Good luck with your selection.
Newt

Jeff Springer Wrote:
Hi,

Since we are getting close to spring I thought that I seek some ideas
from
the group. I would like to solicit ideas for a small tree (20-25'
max.) to
be placed in my front yard. A little history..... The house was
previously
owned by a landscaper and he has already planted a nice assortment of
trees:
japanese maples (coral bark, red laceleaf, green laceleaf), corkscrew
willow, river birches, holly trees, magnolia, pin oak, zelkova, mostly
in
the backyard. The front yard has wonderful shrub and flower beds, but
I
would really like to fill one spot near the driveway (= no sappy
trees).....
I want to find something that is rare and unique (a showstopper).
While I
am not looking to spend a bundle, I would definitely pay more to
acquire
such a tree. Any ideas? Something that would fluorish in SW Wake
County.
One tree I am thinking about is a Chinese flame tree.....


Hi Jeff,

You've gotten some wonderful suggestions here. I like your choice as
well. One other tree that I'd like to suggest is the Sourwood -
Oxydendrum arboreum. It has 4 season interest and offers food to
wildlife as well. It gives a beautiful fall display and is so pretty
when in bloom as well as fragrant flowers and interesting bark. My
favorite tree.
http://tinyurl.com/3rquf
http://tinyurl.com/4nwqg

With no disrespect to the posters who suggested the Paulowinia and the
Catalpa, these are both considered invasive and both are very messy
trees. Here's a site where you can get all kinds of helpful info on
trees including aspects such as roots lifting sidewalks, tree litter,
invasive potential, etc.

http://tinyurl.com/4s4f7

Good luck with your selection.
Newt


--
Newt

MAC Wrote:
On Tue, 25 Jan 2005 10:37:23 -0500, "Jeff Springer"
wrote:
-
Hi,

Since we are getting close to spring I thought that I seek some ideas
from
the group. I would like to solicit ideas for a small tree (20-25'
max.) to
be placed in my front yard. A little history..... The house was
previously
owned by a landscaper and he has already planted a nice assortment of
trees:
japanese maples (coral bark, red laceleaf, green laceleaf), corkscrew
willow, river birches, holly trees, magnolia, pin oak, zelkova, mostly
in
the backyard. The front yard has wonderful shrub and flower beds, but
I
would really like to fill one spot near the driveway (= no sappy
trees).....
I want to find something that is rare and unique (a showstopper).
While I
am not looking to spend a bundle, I would definitely pay more to
acquire
such a tree. Any ideas? Something that would fluorish in SW Wake
County.
One tree I am thinking about is a Chinese flame tree.....
-
One that I'd like to plant is a Forest Pansy Redbud, which has
striking purple leaves most of the year, great fall color, and amazing
flowers in the spring. Tops out at around 20 feet, but takes a while
to do it. I understand it does well here without a lot of work, too,
although I haven't seen that many around. Here's a pic from a
wholesaler to give you an idea. It's about halfway down the page.

http://tinyurl.com/5t37p

MAC


Hi Mac,

Great tree, but some things to note about it are that it tends to be
short lived and needs to be pruned properly, eliminating 'V' shaped
crotches and leaving the 'U' shaped ones. Also, fall color can be
variable, so if that is very important to you, purchase in fall to
determine color. You should find this an interesting read.

http://tinyurl.com/6p93q

Newt


--
Newt

Hi Mac,

Great tree, but some things to note about it are that it tends to be short lived and needs to be pruned properly, eliminating 'V' shaped crotches and leaving the 'U' shaped ones. Also, fall color can be variable, so if that is very important to you, purchase in fall to determine color. You should find this an interesting read.

http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/CERCANC.pdf

Newt

I love the look of the pomegranate (punica granatum). The flowers are
extraordinary! I have one in my yard in Cary and it has done quite well.

Ron

"Jeff Springer" wrote in message
...
Hi,

Since we are getting close to spring I thought that I seek some ideas from
the group. I would like to solicit ideas for a small tree (20-25' max.)
to
be placed in my front yard. A little history..... The house was
previously
owned by a landscaper and he has already planted a nice assortment of
trees:
japanese maples (coral bark, red laceleaf, green laceleaf), corkscrew
willow, river birches, holly trees, magnolia, pin oak, zelkova, mostly in
the backyard. The front yard has wonderful shrub and flower beds, but I
would really like to fill one spot near the driveway (= no sappy
trees).....
I want to find something that is rare and unique (a showstopper). While I
am not looking to spend a bundle, I would definitely pay more to acquire
such a tree. Any ideas? Something that would fluorish in SW Wake County.
One tree I am thinking about is a Chinese flame tree.....

Ronald Page wrote:

I love the look of the pomegranate (punica granatum). The flowers are
extraordinary! I have one in my yard in Cary and it has done quite well.

Does it prodcue fruit?

--
Susan Hogarth
"We dissent, secondly, because the powers vested in Congress by this
constitution, must necessarily annihilate and absorb the legislative,
executive, and judicial powers of the several states, and produce from
their ruins one consolidated government, which from the nature of things
will be an iron handed despotism, as nothing short of the supremacy of
despotic sway could connect and govern these United States under one
government."
- Minority opinion on the ratification of US Constitution

No, mine hasn't. Not sure if it will when it reaches a more mature age.
The blooms are very showy. Here's an example photo:

http://ohric.ucdavis.edu/photos/full...omegranate.jpg

"Susan Hogarth" wrote in message
. com...
Ronald Page wrote:

I love the look of the pomegranate (punica granatum). The flowers are
extraordinary! I have one in my yard in Cary and it has done quite
well.

Does it prodcue fruit?

--
Susan Hogarth
"We dissent, secondly, because the powers vested in Congress by this
constitution, must necessarily annihilate and absorb the legislative,
executive, and judicial powers of the several states, and produce from
their ruins one consolidated government, which from the nature of things
will be an iron handed despotism, as nothing short of the supremacy of
despotic sway could connect and govern these United States under one
government."
- Minority opinion on the ratification of US Constitution