There is no explanation for the size of a tree planted in close proximity to a house. Sometimes it was a pre-existing tree, other times intentionally planted. There was another thread a week or so ago that discussed the presence of massively large native conifers here in the PNW planted within a few feet of modestly sized homes and within relatively small gardens. Yes, many of those were present when the house was built but likely just as many were planted simultaneous or subsequent to the construction. Hasn't seemed to cause as many adverse issues as one would be led to believe.

The planting site and aftercare will often determine how fast or large a tree will grow. And there are some general 'rules of thumb' for placement that makes sense to follow. But aside from that, many folks just plant what they want where it makes sense to them and their garden vision. At some point in time adjustments or removal may be necessary but that is typically measured in decades, not years.

Is your constraint height or width?

Red Fox Katsura may be something to consider.

Start by explaining where you are.

There are some 'rules of scale' which have been invented by people in places where the house is the tallest, largest object in the landscape. Where I live, the tallest, largest objects are old trees, which inhabit empty lots. So even in a fairly small lot, a tree has to become absolutely enormous to cause problems. Since I have problems imagining an absolutely enormous katsura, it doesn't strike me as an issue.

I guess width is more of a constraint. I don't want branches smooshed against our windows. And I'm a little concerned about large roots with the foundation.

We're in Seattle. Lots of large trees, far taller than the houses. I've seen enormous katsuras so when the tag says "fast-growing to 40-60' tall and 30-40' wide," I'm thinking it could easily grow to that. How far away from a house do you think a tree with these dimensions would need to be? And is there any way to keep it more like 30' tall and 20' wide? :)

If it's still there a Katsura tree in the Broad-moor development had a trunk about 3 ft. thick some years ago. And you can't prune these trees back attractively so if you are concerned about eventual size best to choose something else.

We should plant more trees that need little or no watering once established. Seattle and nearby Puget Sound has a dry-summer climate --as does most of western North America. Yet we plant many trees that hail from summer-rainfall regions such as Back East, and Japan. Katsura-tree, for example

http://arthurleej.com/drytrees.html

There is an entire block long planting of Katsuras as street trees (8?) in downtown Bainbridge Island. There is also a 70 y.o. one at a local nursery that is easily 50' tall and with a 30-35' crown.........it is planted in an area that gets no summer irrigation but does have a relatively high water table. Not so much in summer, though.

Since your house is tall, look at columnar or fastigate trees that will grow taller but not as wide as is typical for a particular species.

but does have a relatively high water table

There is/was a big-leaf hydrangea in my neighborhood that went for many years without being watered also.

On a concreted soil, full of clay and silt.

Is this the giant Katsura at a local nursery you speak of gardengal? :) Maybe the most beautiful tree I've ever seen. I wasn't sure if it was a Katsura or Redbud.

Dunno :-)) Were you in Poulsbo? If so, yes, that's it. Pretty spectacular, isn't it?!

This one is in Issaquah. Yep, pretty amazing!

you want nothing that is described as FAST GROWING ....

the key to estimating size ... is trying to find an annual growth rate ... probly using the latin name of any given tree ...

with this info ... you can figure out how fast it will grow .. and you can easily multiply years by such ...

frankly .. not many.. if any.. trees will stop growing at some magical height.. in your lifetime ...

and once you plant a tree.. you will have to become a pruning ninja ...

perhaps if you could post a pic of your front... as i believe the pix above.. are another house..we might have a better idea of the situation

ken

Ok, here is a pic. I'd love to hear suggestions! A few requirements - needs to be really beautiful, no ugly leaves at the end of the season, not too dense on top, not messy with fruit droppings. There will be a big white flowered camellia to the right of the stairs. That magnolia is coming out, if you can see that in the pic. On the left is a small red Japanese Maple which is staying. The tree lawn is lined with oaks.

Definitely yellow fall color. Princeton Sentry Ginkgo.

Hello no to a regular Katsura.

Granted its quite old but this Milwaukee specimen is likely the width of two of those houses.

http://archive.jsonline.com/features/garden/branch-out-with-unusual-varieties-of-trees-for-your-yard-b99280941z1-262929221.html

Boy, that photo doesn't look anything like a katsura I've ever seen!! It is so yellow!! Here, fall color is a mix of peachy-gold, orange and rust......more like the OP's first photo. And most here have a clear trunk to a reasonable head height, while the link shows one branching very low.

But I agree that a full sized katsura would overwhelm that small a front garden. And while the ginkgo will eventually get big, it will do so slowly and the width will be far more proportional to the property size. It's a very good suggestion.

If you really want a katsura, then look at 'Rotfuchs' (Red Fox) - it will stay smaller and more narrow than the species but I would go with a tree with coloring that will contrast with your house, like the ginkgo.......Red Fox will just blend in too much.

On my list is a Heronswood Globe Katsura. My concern with it is it will take 20 years to get every 15' tall. That front window starts at 8' so I'd like something that is at least that tall to begin with, or will grow that tall fairly quickly. Ginkgos, never really considered, ever since I read that they can be stinky. Are they stinky? I remember walking down a street in San Anselmo CA that was lined with bright yellow gingkos and it was stunning.

Also on my shortlist is a Parrotia Persica. Not sure which variety tho.

So definitely no to a regular Katsura? A neighbor several doors down planted one in their grass area, so a little further away from the house, but same tiny space. Since the roots would be blocked by the cement barriers in front, and the house, wouldn't that limit it's size? Or wouldl they just keep growing sideways and deeper?

Here's one of my Katsuras called 'Magnificum'. It's supposed to be smaller than the species and has yellow Fall color with nor orange or peach color. Picture taken a few days ago.

Thanks Mike - I did not have this variety on my radar. Might be just right for this space. Where did you find one in Seattle?

Susan, I've been growing Magnificum for years and have a large grove of them which occasionally gives me a few volunteers. Here's one in a pot you can have. It's about 10 ft tall and would love to be in the ground. The branch on the upper left is from another tree that dried out a bit in a pot this summer.

2006 Edition of Trees of Seattle says there was a 41 ft. Hiro-ha-katsura at the Arboretum at that time. Its accession number indicates it was acquired in 1946 (without delving further, into Arboretum records it could have been anything from a seed to a tree of some size then). The book also mentions a planting of 3 at 1123 16th Ave E, consisting of two on the street and one 25 ft. tall in the yard. With 2 regular Katsura sharing the planting strip with the 2 C. magnificum.

You can find out where other trees you are interested in are located in the Arboretum by looking at their web site. Walking around collections like this, with extensive plantings of trees and shrubs - often with some time behind them - is a good way to get a feeling for the visual character of various kinds. And how much space they may come to occupy.

Trees of Seattle - Second Edition

http://www.arthurleej.com/tos2.html

Heronswood Globe seems like a fine choice to me. Susan, you say you're worried about its size, but you haven't stated how big the trees are that you have available to buy. Are they all tiny, or what? If you buy a tree that's 8 feet tall, it's not going to take 20 years to get to the height you want. Do the nurseries where you live have them, or is mail order your only option? I see that Whitman Farms sells field-grown specimens, so those might be pretty good in size.

Been busy with kid birthday activities and I'm just now checking this thread.

Emborthrium - that sounds like a book I might need to get! I see a few katsuras at that address via google streetview - https://tinyurl.com/y8ncob8p. Not sure if they are the magnificums, but they're lovely. I'm not going to get multi-stemmed for in front of the house tho.

Mike, so kind of you to offer! I will private message you.

MT, I'm not sure what size I can get. I wanted to pick the variety first, and then try to locate. I do know of a 5' HG, but I think I've decided against the HG now that I know about the Magnificum and Claim Jumper - these seem like better choices.