Spent weeks researching a suitable tree in vain. Please advise

12 years ago

Hi,

Its been 2+ weeks now since i embarked on the mission of planting a new tree in front yard (Northern VA) and i am still as lost as ever.

I am looking for a tree (not shrub etc) that would be fast growing so i dont have to spend years to njoy its shade

These are the finalist( please feel free to suggest any more)

Royal Empress

Adv : Super fast growth (advertised as 12 feet/yr)

Disadv : Very soft wood

American Sycamore

Adv : Fast growth, good appeal

Disadv: Fungal Infection, overwhelming pollen, leaves/bark

London Plane tree

Adv : fast growth though not so fast as american sycamore, Disease resistant

Disadv: overwhelming pollen, leaves/bark

Autumn Blaze Maple

Adv : fast growing hybrid maple

Disadv : Slow growth compared to sycamores

Sawtooth Oak

Adv: strong trunk, fastest growing oak

Disadv: Not very appealing, Slower growth compared to above trees

Pin Oak

Adv: Strong trunk, good appeal, slower growth rate than sawtooth oak

Disadv: Slow growth

Weeping willow

Adv: fast growth, good near ponds etc

Disadv: Not so appealing in the front yard (my wife hates it so its almost a no-no), roots might cause damage to water pipes/sewers

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Comments (27)

freesoulva2
Original Author
12 years ago
I forgot to mention
I had almost gone for the American Sycamore till i discovered the pollen/allergy concerns
Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis
12 years ago
Freesoulva2, don't beat yourself up. If for no other reason besides prime planting season is not until at least September.

Lets see if we can't help here.

What are your expectations? In five years what are you demanding out of the tree? Also what is your front yard like? Wet, high and dry? Side of a hill?
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Dan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)
12 years ago
Without even knowing where the tree is going, Empress tree is out.

As for the others, we need some information. Impossible to make recommendations with zero context.

Dan
katkat
12 years ago
SkyriseÃ¯Â¿Â½
(Hybrid Salix)

do a search on this tree. I got a couple for my place and in five years it looks like it is more like 20 years old. It is beautiful and has wonderful shade. We love it. It doesn't hang down like a weeping willow so you can sit under it.....and we do. I could send you some pictures of one that is in its second summer and one in its 5th summer if you like.
freesoulva2
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks for the quick responses. Well i would prefer a deciduous tree something like a Pin Oak with be an absolute favorite, if it could grow a little faster. I was hoping of having a tree under which in about 3 years time, i could atleast place a picnic table.

My front yard is fairly flat( though it is near the top of a slope). The soil usually seems dry if i dont get rain for 4-5 days, though i dont mind a little labor to keep it moist. I have 25-28 feet of space in my front yard between the house and the road
freesoulva2
Original Author
12 years ago
katkat,
Thanks for replying. Some pictures would definitely be of gr8 help. Can you post the pics?
Thanks once again.
Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis
12 years ago
Man, if we had a few more feet I would almost recommend Acer saccharinum - Silver maple.

I love the look of that tree, neat bark, good fall color, they grow fast as anything here. Just they have a life expectancy. Like most fast growth trees they are liable to break apart and fall on you.

Liriodendron tulipifera, we call it Tulip tree around here, grows fast. My neighbor's is probably 25 foot tall in a decade after receiving a heck of a trunk wound from his daughter's car. Under-rated flowers IMO. Plus you sometimes get really good fall color. BIG tree though.

Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Dawn redwood, is fast and long lived. Prefers more damp than average sites for fastest growth... You can limb them up for polite trunks also. Only draw back is the pyramidal shape is not the best for shade.

Ken, in your opinion what is the fastest of the oaks

Pin Oak is not THAT slow around here. Over planted as heck. Red Oak, Quercus rubra, has decent speed.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hort.ucon.edu site. They don't make money off selling trees so I trust their descriptions.
gardener365
12 years ago
If oaks are ok (messy acorns) my first two choices would be:
Quercus michauxii
Quercus montana aka Quercus prinus

Both have reliably good fall color. The Chestnut oak (Q.montana) is more-suited size-wise to your lot.

Dax
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
12 years ago
you do understand .... you have time to figure this out before the next PROPER PLANTING TIME ... which is probably some time in ocotber ... depending where you are .... z6/7 is pretty all encompassing ..

NO ONE in their right mind ... sans a large budget to have it professionally done [read that part.. fully warrantied] ...

it is very hard for a tree to hold its leaves in the high heat of summer... once you interfere with its roots

ken
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
12 years ago
besides the above.. my best advice... track down the best local arboretum ... a labeled mature collection.. and spend some time OFF THE COMPUTER... actually looking at trees ...

they all look the same.. on that computer screen.. and i think that is part of your hesitancy ...

if we knew where you were.. beyond VA... perhaps suggestions could be made.. or a new post ... as some peeps who know.. might not come back to this one ...

ken
whaas_5a
12 years ago
Man, if we had a few more feet I would almost recommend Acer saccharinum - Silver maple.
I love the look of that tree, neat bark, good fall color, they grow fast as anything here. Just they have a life expectancy. Like most fast growth trees they are liable to break apart and fall on you.

Tornado, are you being funny??

@freesoulva2
Quercus bicolor is readily available, is fast growing and drought tolerant.

Check out the link to one of "my" new favorite trees. I believe it fits most of your requirements and would make a nice stately tree.

Here is a link that might be useful: Morton Circle
Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis
12 years ago
Whaas, silver maple...acer sa...? has one going for it which seem important to the OP, speed. I know its weaknesses, I have removed two from my yard which were rotting from the bottom. The trunk of one is on its side in my back yard hallowed out and used as a planter. Can u believe perennials have come back in it for me?

Besides uses as fire wood and planters, the bark is attractive it flowers early in spring, and has pleasing yellow fall color.

It probably does not belong in that tight of a space.

Out where it cant fall apart on anything in forty years, if you like it plant it.
sam_md
12 years ago
freesoulva2,
the next time that you cross over the line into the district notice the trees, especially Pa Ave nr White House. A non-profit planted hundreds of 'Princeton' Elms in DC and they meet your requirements. I highly recommend them. Search this forum for many discussions on this tree. email me seperately if you want to know where you can get 'Princeton' Elms in Montgomery Co.
Sam
whaas_5a
12 years ago
I don't know Silver Maple has poor structure and occasionally has a muddy yellow fall color at best around here.

I sometimes see decent specimans growing on there own in a large space.

Silver Maple is my number three least desired tree for WI, right after Boxelder and Cottonwood.
freesoulva2
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks for the responses. I did go to a local nursery and the only tree recommended was the Autumn Blaze maple.
I did come across the Nutall Oak, which is touted by some as the fastest growing Oak.
whaas_5a
12 years ago
You went to a "a" nursery? Should check out more and do so in the fall when they have stock dug at that time. Spring is the best time as far as selection is concerned. Usually this time of year (including fall to a point) you mostly get the leftovers.

I had an Autumn Blaze at the last home and didn't repeat it...that tells you how much I enjoyed it, lol.

Are you going into the nursery and saying I want a fast growing tree? Perhaps ask for moderate growing trees with your size requirements and come back with a list. I never, never, never take the nursery's advice. I made my worst mistakes and boring choices based on their advice when I was still green.

We'll help you make a solid choice.
dmoore66_gardener
12 years ago
How about a honey locust or bradford pear
Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis
12 years ago
My neighbor has a honeylocust he loves. They seem to be nice enough trees. Good idea.

Bradford/Cleveland type Callery pears are a no-no according to the missouri botanical garden. Here they interbreed with eachother and native pears and producestrange offsprings sll over the woodlines.
whaas_5a
12 years ago
Honey locust is my 4th least desired tree for my area, lol.
Dan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)
12 years ago
How about a bradford pear

How about absolutely not.

Sounds like the OP needs to do some quality research.

Dan
freesoulva2
Original Author
12 years ago
After speaking to a few nurseries around here, they all seem to agree that for a combination of fast growth and sturdiness (hard wood) , the American Sycamore is probably the best choice.
I will have to deal with the possibility of Anthracnose , but i think treatment should not be an issue.
Dan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)
12 years ago
i think treatment should not be an issue.

It won't kill the tree, just annoying. If you're wealthy, disregard.

Dan
whaas_5a
12 years ago
Why don't you get an anthracnose resistant hybrid?

Its annoying that so many nurseries don't progress and offer superior cultivars.

I just planted this 2 quart plant this April. Put over 1' of growth out already. Paid $33 for it.

{{gwi:404161}}

Japanese horsechestnut is the foreground.
freesoulva2
Original Author
12 years ago
whaas, thanks for posting the pic. That looks like a nice healthy plant. Is that an American Sycamore or a London Plane tree? Did u purchase it online or at a local nursery?
whaas_5a
12 years ago
American Sycamore = Platanus occidentalis
'Morton Circle' (pictured) = Platanus x acerifolia = Platanus orientalis and Platanus occidentalis
freesoulva2
Original Author
12 years ago
just wanted to add London Plane tree is the common name for Platanus x acerifolia
j0nd03
12 years ago
A neighborhood is not a neighborhood without/until it has at least 1 sycamore IMO

I prefer P. occidentalis to the others since it is usually too dry after spring for athracnose over here... at least I have never seen a sycamore around here afflicted with it.

1 huge healthy sycamore with the flaky bark even if a little crowded by other trees is as beautiful to me as any open grown oak. Huge fragrant leaves. Pyramidal growth and then really filling out in all directions when older. Vigerous, fast growth, too. Cannot beat it for 3 of the four seasons of interest. Fall is the only time it takes a backseat to most other trees. It does have obvious siting factors that must be accounted for such as mature size, limb litter, and the seed balls. A must have for any property large enough to accommodate its size, especially if there are not any others within sight.

Spent weeks researching a suitable tree in vain. Please advise

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freesoulva2
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