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Good choices for SouthCentral PA (zone 7a)?

9 years ago

I'm noticing a lot of people asking for help with trees are being told the cultivar in question being not a good match for their particular area.

I ordered 3 from Conifer Kingdom, and I want to know if there will be issues before I plant them, then post a "help my tree is dying" plea for help in a bad situation. All they really gave was "minimum zones" nothing about maximum zones or heat tolerance or humidity etc.

The Gold drift and Bush's lace will have am sun and dappled shade from a hackberry tree that leafs out late in the spring and loses its leaves very early, providing shade from 3-4pm in the hottest part of the summer, and pretty much full sun in spring and fall, when it has no leaves. The 'Silver Seedling' will be in part shade in the spring and fall and almost full shade in the hottest months.

Do you think these 3 cultivars will do well in South Central PA? Zone 6b (7a in the 2012 update, but I ain't buying it!) (Just outside Harrisburg, PA)

Picea Abies 'Gold Drift'

Picea Englemanii 'Bush's Lace

Picea Orientalis 'Silver Seedling'

Thanks!

Mark

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Comments (3)

Mike Larkin
9 years ago
http://plantman56.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2013-07-14T18:44:00-07:00

I too live in South Central PA -

My Gold Drift is in full sun - and it has not stayed gold. So I would guess that if you put in any shade, the gold will be even less.

Have not grown the Bush's Lace or Silver Seedling. I do have Skylands and it grows in mostly sun, but does get late afternoon shade.

Well drained soil will also help you conifers to do well.

BTW, there are a few really nice nursery's in the Central PA area you should check out , that have unusual conifers in 1gal, 5 gal and 10 gal. I like mail order, but sometime I cant wait for them to grow.

Attached is my blog, - go to June 13 2013 post for a photo of my Skylands --- Enjoy
sc77 (6b MA)
9 years ago
'Gold Drift' is an excellent choice, you should have no issues there. However, it seems this cultivar needs very FULL sun outside of the PNW in order to color up. Mine gets as much as 10+hrs when the deciduous trees are bare, but only 4-5hrs for the summer months. It starts getting real nice gold tones around this time, but once the trees leaf out, it get's more green on only keeps yellow at the tips and on new growth.

'Silver Seedling' is one of the few conifers that does better in shade. The white tones are actually enhanced when it is placed it bright shade, too much direct sun will burn this one, but otherwise great choice for your location.

I have had good luck with 'Bush's Lace' here, and it seems to be reasonably shade tolerant compared to Picea pungens. Again, mine gets as much as 10hrs during the spring, but only 4-5hrs once the trees leaf out. Your biggest issue with this tree will be heat... These trees are extremely cold tolerant, and do not appreciate excessively hot summers.

Overall, I think you made some really good choice that should to well, though the Bush's lace, may be a challenge depending on how hot your summers are.
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mblan13
Original Author
9 years ago
Nice blog, Mike. I love your 'Skylands'. That one is on my short list. I go to Highland Gardens, Stauffers and, Ashcombe's ( I'll assume those are the 3 you wrote of). HG is my favorite, they have a lot of 1 gallon Conifers and Japanese Maples at good prices. I also love Ashcombe's, their coffee and home baked cookies are almost as big a draw as the plants!

Unfortunately the Hackberry tree is in my neighbors yard. I need to find out the laws on trimming neighbors trees infringing on my gardens "airspace".

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