Jess, since the trees are (I assume) relatively newly planted, it may be that they hadn't hardened off before wiinter, or had begun to grow enough before the Easter freeze, that they were too "green" and soft-tissued (I think I invented a word), so that they were winter-killled, so-to-speak, and the top died. If it looks like the only growth is from low on the trunk, and a scratch test shows no green cambium layer on the upper branches, than the tops are dead. If there is a strong shoot, then cut the trunk off above it (slightly slope the cut to shed water, but away from that shoot, and so the bottom edge of the cut is a half to a quarter inch above that shoot), and it will become the new leader/trunk. If it isn't growing straight up, you can tie a 2-3' cane to the trunk and gently tie the shoot to the cane, to train it upward. Keep an eye on the ties, so it doesn't constrict the shoot, and take the ties off as soon as the shoot stands up by itself. If the cambium on any of the upper branches is still green, then wait a while longer, and keep testing the cambium - the die-back may just keep spreading down the tree. You can still do as I suggested above, later in the summer, if there is no more, higher up growth, and the cambium keeps dieing back more and more.

Megalaster is one of those hot & humid Hoyas and has pretty big leaves, so I always avoided it. But I was feeling irresponsible this year, so now I own it (like an idiot.) That's neat your tenuipes is preparing such a big show. I can't ever remember whether this is the australis that has a bad reputation for blooming or a good reputation for blooming, but mine sure hasn't shown any signs of cooperation, other than outgrowing the others. I have a cousin (once removed) living in outback farm territory in WA and after chewing her ear off about Hoyas native to Australia on her last visit, I guess she's finally discovered she was growing a Hoya all along. But I think it's a carnosa b/c she says the flowers are "kinda pink." Which she gets no credit for at all (!!), because as far as I'm concerned, all Australians should grow rupicola, my favorite australis!! And pick it by hand in the wild. Is that too much to ask, Australians? I, in turn, promise to go find and grow a⦠um⦠Swamp Milkweed. Same cousin has decided she's going to visit Dec-Feb this year b/c she wants to see snow. I'm not trying to start a my-winter-is-harder-than-your-winter competition b/c I live in Omaha which has super easy winters. But I have to say that the geographical location in Iowa where my parents, in their infinite wisdom, decided to establish their farm, has got to be the least fun winter spot in the U.S. It's not the shimmery sunny ice castle ice-fishing snow-shoeing winter wonderland Minnesota becomes. It's like that scene in Little House in the Prairie where they tied a rope between the house and the barn to be able to find their cow and not die lost in a field. You literally spend the whole winter trying to get out of one snow pile, only to become stuck in a different snowpile down the road. So, that's a round-about way of saying she'll be stuck listening to my rupicola sales pitch with no means of escape.

I think my new post We Has To Pull The Tree Out> was a little confusing since it no longer followed the original thread and it was so long ago. Dawn, Randy, I sooooo appreciated your input and advice in July. Now I'm looking for some guidance on an appropriate replacement tree for spring. Some of my past ideas once researched haven't been very good. For instance I thought about Mimosas because we had one in our yard when I was a child, and the hummingbirds loved the pink blooms. I didn't know their life span is short and their not native to the USA. Then this last spring while at Lowes I took pity on a tree that was tipped over and had lost the bottom out of the planter. It was wilted, most of the soil was lost around it's roots and it couldn't even be set upright. It was going to be a goner for sure in a short time. They offered it for half price. It was a Cleveland Select Ornamental Pear. I then researched it after the fact. I learned that birds will eat it's fruit to their detriment, since it has practically no nutritional value for them. It has more positive aspects than a Bradford Pear and I put seed out for the birds, but I wouldn't have purchased it had I known the negative aspects. Dawn, Here's the info repeated on this thread. I have red clay soil, But I'm willing to put some effort into soil prep. for a healthy tree. I need a tree that at maturity will be around 20' to 30', because I've read or been told that the height of the tree is also the length of the roots. Not sure if that's fact. The tree would be planted 20' away from the front of the house. I don't want any future problems with the foundation of the house since I think I'll be here the rest of my life, lol. I would like something that's at least native to the US and would be a plus for the local birds. I don't think I want a fruit tree since it's going to be in the front yard. I hope this info helps. Any and all suggestions are appreciated. Lora

First flower on Segentrange #010 has developed a fruitlet. Hopefully, it will persist. The tree is 4 years old from seed. Segentrange # A-026 flowered prolifically in the past few weeks. This tree produced 2 fruit last year. The tree is also 4 years old this month. Segentrange # 001 has been resistant to late frosts thus far. This tree hasn't fruited yet and is 4 years old. The hardiest seedling remaining in the original trial plot. Shows no Winter, nor Spring damage. This is Segentrange #128 and has never been protected. It's also 4 years old.