In my area there has been a huge surge in clusters of birch plantings by professional landscapers in the last few years. Beautiful, but not sure it's the best choice for urban areas in Zone 6. I did a thread on that a while back.

Also noticed a lot of small sycamore used as street trees in the city.

I've also seen a lot of redbud for sale lately. More then I ever used to.

Holly use seems to be in decline. Every Christmas my local Lowes sold massive numbers of them, but didn't this year.

Seems to be more hawthorn for sale. Arbor Day sold them in their "10 Free tree" packages and the local Dunkin' Donuts has one.

Let's hope tupelo use takes off. I thought slow growth and difficulty in transplanting kept it from widespread use.

If you scroll down to near the end a TREES section appears. I think they have them grouped almost entirely by popularity because EDIBLES is near the the top (after the 2015 WINNERS! section), followed by PERENNIALS AND GRASSES and on from there. The only thing that doesn't fit such a sequence is the one CONIFER preceding the EDIBLES.

http://farwestshow.com/nvs.shtml

In my area there has been a huge surge in clusters of birch plantings by professional landscapers

Nowadays there is a tendency for property owners to leave the tree and shrub selection to landscape architects and contractors*. After the development has been landscaped initially there may be very little, if any additional purchasing of woody plants. Many occupants of residential properties are tenants (60% in the Seattle area, as of some years ago) or have moved into townhouses or other places with very little land around them. Even rather large single family houses are often being packed together.

*Friends in both occupations report that the current market typically isn't interested in woody plants having any particular features except them being "low maintenance"

oak. always.

Genetically Modified American Chestnut.....once approved by USDA

Ed mentions sycamore above and I'm aware of at least one forestry application for that species which is somewhat novel-the Stockbridge Indian Reservation-directly adjacent to the much larger and more well-known (Best forestland east of the Mississippi say many experts) Menominee Reservation here in Wisconsin, will be trialing sycamores in their forest, far north of that tree's usual home range, as an early test of adaptation to a warming planet. Funny how in a state where the ruling govt. has all but abdicated its responsibilities, especially where natural resources are concerned, little bitty Indian tribes are taking up the burden.

I guess with the archgrounds planting hundreds of them sycamores / planetrees must be "in"

2015 in Southern California: a huge influx of Parkinsonia 'Desert Museum'. They went in everywhere.

I don't know if this is a trend, but I'm seeing more of these being planted in public spaces as of the last year or so:

Fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus)

Sweet Bay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)

for shrubs, I'm seeing more 'Pragense' viburnum.

Kind of ironic that Chionanthus would be getting more popular now-with EAB having been shown to have the ability to colonize and subsequently kill these plants.

The people choosing fringe tree probably haven't heard about the problem.

Tom, how is Appleton handling the EAB threat? Are they removing healthy trees or are they taking a wait and see approach?

There definitely are trends and fads, but they are different in different regions of the country. Cities and big development companies seem to usually want to plant things that are going to be low-maintenance.

At
the present time there are three ash cultivars that have some degree
of resistance to the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). These ash are all
related to black ash, Fraxinus
mandshurica, which
is native to area of Asia where the borer evolved as a minor pest on
black ash. Nurseries are growing them as fast as they can, but it will take a few more years before they are easily found.

For more info see: http://gibneyce.com/archive-63.html#EAB

Of all of the new deciduous trees released this year my top two that look promising are Ruby Sunset Maple (truncatum like leaves with bright red fall color) and Sparkling Sprite Crabapple (red-pink buds open to white flowers and then golden-orange fruit that persist on the tree) from J. Frank Schmidt. So long as they have some available in containers late summer or early fall we will get some in.

I noticed Heritage Seedlings released a new Katsura variety called Claim Jumper that has yellow foliage throughout the growing season. If we were a little less exposed here I would want to trial it and see if it withstands the mid-summer sun and holds the color. Heritage also has Moonrise Shirasawa Maple, a bright yellow leafed variety with good fall color that they claim has withstood -26. That is another one that would definitely be worth trialing here in Iowa.

On the conifer side of things the newest tree for us is still the Picea obovata 'Arctos' that we were able to get a couple of in last year and are getting some more in this year. Am curious to see how they fared through the winter (though it has been a pretty easy one thus far). Also I have been impressed with Thuja 'Jantar' for the great winter and summer color. A new blue spruce we are trying this year is Picea pungens 'Schulte' which has bright blue color and some of the largest needles of any blue spruce. I guess we will see when it arrives.

For trends most landscapers are stuck in 20 years ago- River Birch, AB Maple, Honeylocust, Cleveland Select Pear, Greenspire Linden, etc.... Whatever is cheap, grows fast in sod culture, and is readily available. An unbelievable number of Cleveland Select Pears have gone in in our area the past few years (thousands). Shows how far behind Iowa is in the tree world! At least there are a few more oaks being planted than previously- although Swamp White seems to be the only variety anyone is using. Most cities simply don't have or don't allocate the resources for tree care after the first year, so many of those newly planted trees or different varieties end up perishing during a drought or due to disease/insect/soil issues.

Maackia, I was away for a couple days. To address your question: We must be just about the most proactive outfit around. I don't remember the exact number of years ago that this beetle was discovered in the Detroit area, but whatever year that was, that's the year we discontinued planting ash trees. Must be what, almost 15 yrs. ago now? Then, as we rebuild streets, if ash trees are present, we've been removing most of them prior to reconstruction, unless an especially fine specimen. In short, we decided a long time ago that we didn't want to get hit with this thing overnight so we've been reducing ash wherever and whenever possible right along. We even took out some rows of really nice young trees and have already replaced them with trees of other types which have put on significant growth already....I'm thinking maybe 8 or 10 years ago already. We got on this right away.

We will be treating some ash in our downtown strip. These are trees in cut-outs (well, not really, but it's a long story) and which offer an especially good chance at control.

So there you have it-a 3-pronged approach: Beat the rush, begin replacements immediately, and treat some (though not many) trees.

I thought it was a lot less expensive to inject ash every third year than it was to cut it down and replant with something else.

Depends on condition and other factors. I would have probably opted to inject more. I don't know how the numbers would work out and of course, it would be different for every tree, but yes, there is evidence to support that.

Len - in your first post above, "These ash are all related to black ash, Fraxinus mandshurica ..."

"Black ash" is normally used as the common name for the native Fraxinus nigra. To avoid confusion, it's probably better to refer to Fraxinus mandshurica as "Manchurian ash". You may want to edit the first paragraph in the link.

Isn't that an ABC sitcom?

toronado, "I guess with the archgrounds planting hundreds of them sycamores / planetrees must be "in". According to this NPS article, they were in fact planetrees (cultivar not specified), not sycamores: http://www.nps.gov/jeff/learn/news/facts-about-tree-replacement-on-the-arch-grounds.htm

Some of the more popular trees going in new developments around here include planetrees, as well as hackberries, coffeetrees, tuliptrees (which often struggle in the compacted "soil"), lindens, hybrid elms, and zelkovas.

Agree with Len that future demand will be strong for EAB resistant ash varieties. Would like to plant Northern Treasure or Northern Gem, but haven't found a source within a reasonable distance (plus quarantine issues). Have only seen them offered by a couple west coast and Canadian growers.

Select Landscapes - I wonder if Ruby Sunset maple will turn out to be any better than Norwegian Sunset or Pacific Sunset? The latter haven't been much of an improvement over straight Norway maple here.

Dave,

I wonder too. Here in Iowa Pacific Sunset is the better of the two. Ruby Sunset looks to have the most truncatum-like features to date. We use a decent amount of the newer Crimson Sunset but I doubt the average homeowner could tell it apart from Crimson King. Also, Crimson Sunset is advertised as having reddish fall color which it never does in Iowa so I wonder if Ruby Sunset will color early enough to give a decent display.

Compared to straight Norways I agree they are not more adaptable but what I do like about the hybrids is that they don't seem to spread their seeds all over and invade like Norway Maple does. The smaller leaf size and upright canopies of the hybrids lends itself a to being able to grow plant material under the tree, whereas mature Norway Maples can be so wide spreading and thick with foliage that it can be difficult to maintain any sod or groundcover under them. Here in a heavy Japanese Beetle year Norway Maple can get chewed on fairly heavily (particularly young trees) whereas the hybrids don't seem as attractive to them. A couple years ago was driving through a small town west of me that was just getting JBs and they had devoured nearly all of the mature Norways in the town- including Royal Reds/Crimson Kings. Had never seen that before. You just about needed your windshield wipers on to be able to see!

It would be great if they could introduce an EAB resistant ash hybrid that had white ash in its genetics to have the great fall color. So long as the hybrids don't become the next "plant anywhere" tree like green ash they will be a valuable addition to urban & rural tree lists.

That's interesting about JB's and Norway maples, I haven't noticed much damage on Norways or other maples here, maybe because we have an abundance of other preferred plants (lindens, grapevines, brambles, sassafras, etc).

Another "cool" tree I'd like to try is Corylus fargesii. But I wonder if the JB's will damage it as much as they do the other hazels?

Back to the maples, there are a couple retailers here that have been promoting 'Regal Petticoat' sycamore maple, and they claim it has very good cold hardiness.

Tried a Regal Petticoat a couple years back and it did not make it through a -24 winter. Maybe it was poor stock to begin with? Being a sycamore maple I'm not sure it will do well in the Midwest- I wonder if they have root or canker issues based on other varieties I've seen in Iowa. They sure are promoting it though. From up close it looks neat but from a distance I'm not sure I like the looks of it.

Saw the Corylus fargesii a couple years back at the Morton Arboretum and think it is an amazing tree with huge potential. I've stayed away from Corylus due to JBs here. What would be really neat is Corylus fargesii crossed with a red/purple leafed Corylus variety.

JBs have started to subside here over the past couple years but I can't tell if it has been the cold winters or something else. After the easy winter this year hopefully will get a better idea. Got so tired of spraying for them that have planted very few of any susceptible varieties over the past 5 years- lindens, elms, hazelnuts, crabapples, roses, etc..... For a couple years they even devoured the sugar maples that we planted.

Hopefully everyone reading this thread will pick out a new tree to try and diversify their landscape. Diversification is the best answer to avoiding a EAB disaster repeat.

Corylus fargesii is one I'm acquiring this year. I have to also say that it's of my opinion that blue Picea obovata's are going to be a landscape champion anywhere that Colorado blue spruce is susceptible to disease.

Dax

"lenphillips75

last Friday at 1:34PM

I thought it was a lot less expensive to inject ash every third year than it was to cut it down and replant with something else."

It has been a couple years. When I was shopping treatments no one warrantied theirs and success rates were advertised as maybe for a while. What do a round injections cost anymore and does anyone give a warranty?

Select, thats an interesting list you put up. When you get real life pictures of the crab apple and blue spruce I would love to see them.

Toronado, my information on costs for treatment vs. remove and replace came from an Arborjet researcher. But I would recommend asking several firms.

Yes, estimates can vary widely. Get three or more. Picea obovata blue phase...yea-a-a-ay! (If it proves hardy enough lol).

oh-ha-ha-ha, lol! That sh#t from Russia man. . . .

By the way, I've grafted some stuff for you +oM !

Dax

Dax, since Picea obovata hasn't been widely planted in the U.S. is it too early to say whether it has good disease resistance?

They can't really tell it apart from Picea abies. You should look at The Gymnosperm Database. It's a very quick read.

Dax

Based on the 'Arctos' we received last year, I was really surprised at the needle size. Smaller than Norway Spruce by quite a bit (actually up close the needles are TINY!). Also I've heard the growth rate is not near as quick in comparison, but maybe that is just 'Arctos'? Here is the pic my sales rep Alan took at Bickelhaupt last year or year before:

I see what you're saying about needle length, but man is that beautiful.

Form too; It is going to be a seriously awesome tree.

Dax

Yeah, that's just a good-looking tree. Hey Dax, the guys up at Itasca somewhat perversely (to me anyway) thought obovata "wasn't hardy enough" for N. Minnesota. Now granted, N. Minnesota about takes the cake for coldness, but we're not far behind here. Plus...........it is just so counterintuitive that this Siberian spruce should have difficulty with any winter weather....I do wonder if there was some confusion on that end, at least on the day we spoke of this. Keep me posted bud. Got a good spot for some!

Will do. My grafts are looking great and they were grafted during January sometime.

That's good news!

Dax

How would Picea glauca coerulea compare to 'Arctos'?

Nearly as well as Picea obovata or possibly as well.

Dax

If 'Arctos' ends up with the upswept branches/pendant branchlets of Norway spruce-I know that's a lot of "ifs"...it will be not only a brightly-colored tree, but one with a very imposing branching habit. So at least in that one regard, will still likely be a more interesting plant than any P. glauca. Not that there's anything wrong with white spruce. I like them too. But the branching of NS is really something special in my world.

Indeed +oM we're on the same page about branching.

Dax

I wholeheartedly agree with the diversity comments!

Of the trees mentioned, I planted my first (2'?) Acer Triflorum in
1998 and then moved it two years later. It’s been a very nice investment. I
tried planting another 3’ triflorum four years ago, but it didn’t survive the drought
that first year, and my watering probably didn’t help. We have very well
drained soil, but it floods along a dry stream from time to time with
summertime thunderstorms. Flooding seldom lasts more than a couple of hours. Both
triflorums were planted in the area that floods. Planted two more 18” triflorum two years ago
and they’re doing fine so far.

I planted my first Yellowwood around 1980. It suffered
damage in one of the droughts a few years ago. I think nearly 1/3rd
of the tree died back, but it has recovered. It has been a great tree to have
in the yard. I planted another (2’ tall?) in 2011 in a better area of the yard
and it’s off to a very good start.

I’ve finally been able to get Chinkapin Oaks established
from a nearly 200-year-old specimen in the back yard. The squirrels kept
digging them up each spring! I’ve got one that’s now about 20 feet tall. If it
has the same great shape of the parent tree, someone’s great-grandchildren will
hopefully appreciate it! We've got one started in a neighbor's yard, too! I keep trying to select those seedlings with the
reddest leaves, but have little luck getting saplings with very much red
color—so far. I highly recommend Chinkapin Oak if you can get it and can deal
with the acorns. Unfortunately, the old tree is showing its age and will need
to come down before long. It’s been the best looking of the mature oaks in the
area and I hate to see it go.

Black Gum/Tupelo was mentioned, too. I tried to get two of
these (3’ or so?) started in 1979. One died the first year and the other
struggled for 6-7 years before I finally gave up on it. I planted another smaller
Black Gum in 2011. It’s slow-growing in quite a bit of shade, but seems to be
doing fine so far.

Parrotia. We planted our little (2’?) Parrotia in 1996. Moved
it in 1998 and it has done extraordinarily well ever since. It suffered a
little in a drought a few years ago, but recovered nicely.

We had to remove our 75+ years old sugar maple 4 years ago
after the power company butchered it. I replaced it with a Legacy and planted
it farther from the street. It’s doing very nicely.

My biggest regret over the years has been planting two River
Birch in 1998. Messy trees. One of them
goes as soon as the newer Yellowwood gets some size. Maybe in a couple of
years.

And, help your neighbors choose and plant trees! Future generations will appreciate the effort, anonymous though you may be by then.

my tree is ruby red chestnut trees at my duplex