Purple beech (including 'Purpurea Tricolor') grow quite large here as do purple and yellow-variegated forms of sycamore maple. This last tree, however is rare in my area. Large 'Zebrina' western redcedar are dotted about, these appear to have a tendency to produce a broader specimen than typical. The biggest (total volume) one I've measured (65' X 13'7" X 40', 1992) was in Greenwood Cemetary, Renton WA. Maybe it's still there. I zeroed in on this tree but completely overlooked the Hendrix marker. Some taller ones from Van Pelt, Champion Trees of Washington State (1996, University of Washington, Seattle) include: Cedrus deodara 'Aurea' 87' 1993 Vancouver Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Lutea' 76' 1993 Snohomish Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Stewartii' 80' 1993 Bremerton Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Westermanii' 67' 1995 Tacoma Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Aurea' 66' 1992 Seattle Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Plumosa Aurea' 75' 1992 Tacoma Fagus sylvatica 'Purpurea Tricolor' 73' 1995 Brinnon Liquidambar sytraciflua 'Variegata' 66' 1995 Seattle Populus X canadensis 'Serotina Aurea' 99' 1992 Puyallup Robina pseudoacacia 'Frisia' 72' 1992 Auburn Thuja plicata 'Zebrina' 76' 1993 Olympia

If it is a tree-form wisteria, then it needs no support to grow on, other than a temporary staking while allowing the major vining trunks to develop to the point where it becomes self-supporting. And I'd agree to keeping it front and center where its growth can be monitored and necessary pruning can keep it in check. A well-trained and maintained wisteria "tree" can be an extremely attractive asset to an ornamental planting. Out of sight, out of mind is a pretty common occurrence and most situations of the Asian species of wisteria invading natural areas are those where the domesticated plant has been sited too close to woods, etc. and then neglected or ignored and allowed to run rampant. FWIW, if planted in a small planting bed surrounded by lawn, the frequent mowing of the lawn areas will tend to keep any root shoots/suckers in check.

hey any of the foo foo dogwood are questionable in my z5 .... in my experience anyway ... the riversii beech is very slow growing very dark .... and very nice ... you know my feelings on the tricolor beech ... purple plum is nice color.. if you can ignore all its other problems .... ya know.. frankly.. your quest for a perfect year round tree is near impossible .. IMHO ...almost all trees have their glory season .. and then for one reason or another.. start declining ... i am having a hard time with your demand that it be perfect and glorious the entire season.. everything i have.. that you list.. looks ratty sooner or later ... except maybe the copper beech ... but even that tends to have a dark color that is variable by year ... your collection should be large enough now.. that you should become a little more zen in your approach .... and plant things that have a 'season' .. and when it looks ratty.. you have others plants.. with other seasons ... e.g. should i get rid of all my iris.. because they only bloom for a week or two.. and look crumby the rest of the summer.. NOT!!! ... so why would trees or shrub choice be any different ???? ken

After reading how to get rid of chipmunks on GW I rigged up a five gallon bucket with water and a plastic plate filled with sunflower seeds. "My DH said that will never work". The very next morning I was watching a chipmunk running around the bucket. It checked out the ramp spread with peanut butter. It was already licked clean. He then climbed the back of the waterfall rocks and jumped about two feet right into the bucket. "I was thinking won't work huh" Then I saw his little head going up and down. He was really enjoying the sunflower seeds. I went out to see what was going on. It seems it was pretty cold that night and the water in the bucked was frozen and so was the seeds in the plate. I laughed my head off. I called my sister and gave her the laugh for the day. Now I have a smaller seed container a (two inch lid) and I am hoping for better weather and fewer chipmunk's.