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Moderate-fast growing trees as companions to hostas

14 years ago

In my yard, there are quite a few mature oaks, a few sugar maples (yes, that's right), and a few other trees (an apple tree planted about 10 years ago, some pine and a blue spruce at the edge.

I am considering planting some more trees (1-3) throughout the yard, and would like something interesting, that will grow well, but that won't compete with an under-planting of hostas & other shade-tolerant plants.

Any ideas?

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Comments (14)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
14 years ago
if zone appropriate:

redbud ... including some variegated ones

more oak ... like a variegated robur ...

any of the foo foo english aka robur oaks ...

beech ... like the tri color

all will do better in full sun... redbud can handle being an understory plant ...

all nut trees.. IN GENERAL.. are deep rooted...

ken
chris-e
14 years ago
Ptilda,

I have a tri color beech, I inherited it when I moved to this house and I recommend against it. It is a tree that needs to be in the shade itself. This is the third summer it has looked dead by the beginning of July, no matter how much water we gave it. I asked at a local nursery and they said it needs shade or it will burn up.

We are now trying to decide where to move it and what to put in its place.

But then, in your zone, it might do better. I'll GIVE it to you if you come get it!

christine
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When a nursery says 'moderate' growth rate, how fast is that?
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LOL......bless your heart, all this tempest over one question about how fast something grows. I'm still confused over what you're ultimately getting and it's not your fault at all. If this is really what the trade accepts as a columnar, then it's not incorrect to use both terms, because as I said columnars are indeed fastigiate. What I, and bboy were pointing out is that columnars are not so typical in the trade, and what typically would be available commercially woud be simply the fastigiate form, and it sizes out rather more full than what the term fastigiate would imply. IOW fatigiate does not necessarily equal columnar. In the absence of a named clone, one has to simply depend on the accuracy of the binomial assignment for a plant's expected attributes. I would have expected a nursery to use one term, or the other but not both. But, calling them both is correct, if they are really offering a columnar form. But, to me the description sounds more like the fastigiate form and not the columnar form. For your purposes, I don't think it makes much difference and either would be acceptable. But to tree nerds, we know that the industry is constantly redefining nomenclature to be consistant and there is a lot of lee-way out there in how the product is defined. We just wanted you to be aware of the potential size of the fastigiate form but the description you posted already described that so you already know. Myself, I love hornbeams and feel they are underused in this country. Good luck on your hedge.
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Hi clareykc - take some of these suggestions with a pinch of salt. These guys are thinking on a US scale - hence the BIG tree suggestions. Blue Ice will grow to 40 feet. Ogon will get to 70 feet. Can you tell us the dimensions of the space you have? And what kind of area you are in - urban, suburban, country? IMO Arizona Cypress or Ogon would look weird in the country but ok in a more man-made environment. Also bear in mind that fast growing trees don't generally only grow fast until they reach a desired height and then stop. They keep going long after that which is why the UK is littered with inappropriately placed giant Eucalyptus, which are then hacked about to reduce them, bright eye watering yellow Robinia 'Frisia', massive weeping willows and overbearing Lawson cypress. Ken loves that tricolore beech - I've never had the heart to say I think it is revolting, but I'll say it now just so you can check it out and see what you think. However, any beech, except a columnar variety, is pretty much inappropriate for your average UK sized garden. Just guessing from your zone and the reference to damp windy climate - are you in the South West? If so you might have acid soil which would give you some interesting choices e.g. Eucryphia (white flowers), Arbutus (flowers and fruit). Pittosporum tenuifolium comes in various variegations and is hardy in the South of the country. I'd have a look around local parks and gardens open to the public for some more interesting ideas than the bog standard. Try to get local expertise to help. And bear in mind that a tree will also take light from your garden, depending on the aspect, so will need careful placing. The tree does not have to be as tall as the thing you want to hide. It depends on the angle you are looking up from as to how tall it needs to be. Here is a link that might be useful: Trees for smaller gardens
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My Mom's front yard has a center walk to the front door. The previous owners planted 2 red oaks and 2 Arizona Ash, a local trash tree, one of each on each side. The ash were toward the street. When they bought the house, they removed the ash trees. Within two years, the oaks had filled in where the ash had been and were round like they should be. It gets so hot here that shade is very important to livability. I thought it was a great solution to adding shade quickly and then also planning for the future. bk
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I have a poplar plantation and would like to point up some of the unexpected virtues of these underrated trees. My wood was initially planted for matches, only to be totally neglected when the market diminished in the 70s. Since then, the hybrid poplars have grown on but, because of the small canopy and high light levels (planted on 6m centres), colonies of english oak, hawthorn, holm oaks and prunus spinosa have appeared, amongst the brambles. The trees are now some 70 odd years old and will need felling over the next few decades but, in the meantime, the roots have not been terribly greedy, they have not suckered or seeded and the wood has a most wonderful cathedral aspect which comes from very tall trees with light levels high enough to sustain grasses and perennials. As my small 5 acre plantation is surrounded by land-drains, I have planted many shrubby willows - the stem colours are remarkable and I use the osiers for basketry. I was initially sceptical, assuming poplar was a sort of 'trash tree' but have, in fact, found it to make decent firewood and very straight-grained timber for milling - it takes a stain wonderfully well, splits perfectly and has some good structural applications. As with all broadleaves, the faster they grow, the shorter their lifespan (although this doesn't apply to conifers)...and hybrid poplars will put on enough growth to harvest on a 15 year rotation. Add in some hazel, redwoods (they are fast too) and sweet chestnut and I feel I have a good basis for a small wood with diversity and a true wooded feel but without the gloom and non-existent ground layer associated with conifer and beechwoods. Can I also put in a plea for some of those smaller.modest trees such as sorbus, malus, amelanchiers, halesias. dogwoods, viburnums etc. Growing an understorey, as well as planting the more majestic forest trees, really does create a feeling of density, abundance and most of all, several seasons of interest, with blossom, fruits and bark.
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User
14 years ago
Japanese Tree Lilac
(Syringa reticulata)

There is a clump type and a single stem type. I prefer the single stem. Hardy to Zone 3. Both are fabulous.

Search "Japanese Tree Lilac" in Google images and see why.
poberbeck
14 years ago
I have a multi-stem serviceberry and dogwoods. The multi-stem Japanese Lilac needs more sun then I get with 6 oak trees. It has a great shape but I get no flowers. The Rose of Sharon does bloom in my shady yard, and I have seen some nice clump like small trees.
ptilda
Original Author
14 years ago
Ken, I like the redbud and tricolor beech.

chris-e, how big of a flat-rate box would you need to send the beech to me? :) I would suspect that in our cool climate, it might do very well. It is certainly a beautiful tree, from what I see.

manyhosta, I am SO lusting after the Japanese lilac. We've been working on performing Le Nozze di Figaro in the Glensheen mansion at Duluth, MN, and their Japanese Lilac trees just finished this week. The smell was intoxicating. I don't think they are the most gorgeous trees, but the smell is phenomenal!

poberbeck, I like the looks of the serviceberry. Looks like most Dogwoods are pushing the zone, and the Rose of Sharon are definitely out of the question (they are zone 5).

So, where are the good sources for trees? We have only a few close resources & otherwise I'm limited to driving to Duluth or Minneapolis, or mail-order.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
14 years ago
just like the hosta.. in late august.. the beech can start to look ratty in z5 .... not unlike FW.. some years.. ratty.. some years glorious

as a COLLECTOR i really see no reason to own 2 of anything .. i have two of these ....

ignore the dwarf in the pic ... ken
{{gwi:242702}}
{{gwi:242703}}
aka_margo
14 years ago
The Tri-color beech is only hardy to zone 4. Most beech trees are hardy to zone 5. So if you are truly on the edge of zone 3/4 it probably won't work. I have one, but I can't say it's a fast growing tree at all. In the three years I've had it I think it's produced one new branch.

My friend who lives "up-north" (Crivitz, WI) has one, and besides the deer eating theirs it does not perform well at for them at all. They are zone 4.

Just thought I would throw that out there before you get too excited about one, but if you are like me you will try to find one and see if you can push the zone anyway:)
Jen
paul_in_mn
14 years ago
Here's a pic of Redbud (Cercis canadensis - MN Strain) blooming in mid May before it leafs out.
{{gwi:1045198}}

If looking for understory tree also look at Pagoda Dogwood. Similar in size to Redbud.

Paul
ptilda
Original Author
14 years ago
Ken, funny, somehow I pictured you taller.

Do the dogwood retain the leaf color all season?
woodside
14 years ago
I've got a purple leaf plum tree planted next to the house. Purple leaves all year. I haven't noticed significant fruiting or flowering (small white flowers and small red fruits) and it hasn't gotten significantly larger in the 3 years we've been there. But it's got pretty burgundy leaves and adds a nice touch. The hostas are to the left of the tree. Supposed to have a short life span though.

I planted purple poppy mallows at it's base to augment the color scheme there. One bloom so far :) should be great next year!
lindac
14 years ago
Purple leaf plum is notably subject to borers, it's lovely if you want to spray or continually watch for sawdust.
Redbud has a canopy shape and provides fairly dense shade grows fast and turns a lovely shade of yellow in the fall....but may not live in your zone.
Pagoda dogwood is pyramid shaped, beautiful tree....flowers and then berries.
Service berry (amalanchier) is also a great tree/bush with berries and flowers.
I have a couple of squirrel planted pin oaks that are zooming up and providing good shade in just 3 years.
No flowers, but deep roots and red leaves in the fall.
Linda C
gardengirl_nancy
14 years ago
What about River Birch, I think it's a beautiful tree. Not sure if it's good for planting under but maybe someone knows.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
14 years ago
the pics above.. are a tri color beech and dwarf ...

as noted.. my suggestions are for my zone.. its your responsibility to insure they are appropriate for your zone ...

birch are not the best.. but far from the worst ...

ken
sidney1515
14 years ago
Fifteen or twenty years ago I planted a Serviceberry and trained it into a tree. . now I sincerely wish I had not. It's dirty and sheds little branches and twigs every time it storms. As soon as the ground freezes it's getting the green weenie. . chainsaw city. . lol I have an ark of plantaginea under it and the droppings keep punching holes in the leaves.. .

I don't have too much trouble with my River Birch clump. Is anyone having luck with a Honey Locust tree?

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