Tree for the Front Yard
muchtolearn
Posted: Jul-21-2004 at 8:52am
Good Morning All,
I have been looking for a tree to plant in my front yard. The front of the house faces east and on the hot days it really starts the house heating up. I was hoping for a tree that wouldn't get to big. As I already have a very large cherry on the side. I've noticed some trees that get to about 25 feet and have a very nice spread. The leaves are kind of shaped like large hearts. Anyone know what kind it would be? I do have a wonderful row of azelea's that front the road, so was hoping not to affect them to much. They have been very happy for 16 year. Thanks for any suggestions.
Posted: Jul-21-2004 at 12:24pm
Hi! I don't know what tree you are thinking of with the heart-shaped leaves. The only one that comes to mind is Paulownia and it gets very big. Anyway, here's a link to the Great Plant Picks website which has lots of great ideas for people in our area. Most of these trees are interesting but not so rare that you can't find them locally. If you don't have acrobat reader you can at least look up the Latin name on a search engine and see what they look like. Be sure to keep in mind where your drain field and buried lines are. Good luck and here's the link:
Great Plant Picks Trees
-Wanda
cjmiller
Posted: Jul-21-2004 at 2:01pm
Take a look at:
1. Katsura (Cerdidiphyllum japonicum) has a heart shaped leaf and great fall color. there is an upright one and a weeping one (C. pendulata).
2. Linden (Tilla) has at least five varietites and is a fairly easy care tree, with an attractive 30 to 40 foot shape.
3. There are multiple varigated trees that are quite wonderful in the maple family.
4. A fast growing tree in green or yellow leaf, Locust(Robinia) flowers in spring with bean like pods in fall.
5. Japanese Snowdrop (Styrax japonicus) that tends to grow about 30 ft tall. Looks great when the snowbells are in full bloom from underneath.
I have all of these trees except the Katsura pendulata, which I am lusting after mightily--The only note of caution is remember smaller leaves are easier to dispose of in the fall.
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Lisa A
Posted: Jul-21-2004 at 2:39pm
Define what you mean by "too big" please. Are you concerned about ultimate height or is width (because of the cherry) more of a concern? I love katsura trees (good suggestion, CJ) but the non-weeping form will grow larger than 25'. One of mine is 7 years old and is close to 20'; the younger one isn't much shorter. I've seen older specimens that are easily 50'.
As for that large heart-shaped leaved tree, could you be thinking of a Catalpa bignoides? Here's info and a photo of leaves. It will get larger than 25' although I have seen some that have been coppiced yearly but then there don't get to be more than a large (very large) shrub.
Another possibility for heart-shaped leaves (although not as large as the Catalpa) and roughly 25' size is the Eastern Redbud, Cercis canadensis. Here's info and a photo of leaves.
Check out the Great Plant Picks site that Wanda provided. These are trees recommended for our area. I've found size estimates and culture information to be reliable.
Well, how 'bout that? I just checked them for info regarding katsuras and my experience is right in line with what they say. I must be doing something right! Oh, one last bit of advice if you choose a katsura - protect its young bark from harsh sun since it is prone to sun scald and splitting bark from that damage.
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DebbieTT
Posted: Jul-21-2004 at 3:56pm
For a Cercis that only gets to 20' you might try Cercis chinensis 'Avondale'. It is beautiful in full bloom in spring and quite tame (after going through tree obediance school).
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muchtolearn
Posted: Jul-21-2004 at 6:25pm
Wow, thanks for all of the info, and the great links. I will be spending the next few weeks going thru them. I knew that the Rainy Side Garden was the place to ask my question. My daughter Jenn is always telling me how great you guys are . Thanks again. Joanne
mdvaden
Posted: Jul-21-2004 at 10:59pm
Parrotia
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M.D. Vaden
Wanda
Posted: Jul-22-2004 at 9:33am
Oh - for fall colors you really can't beat Parrotia. Good advice, MD. -Wanda
sparklemama
Joined: Mar-20-2004
Posted: Jul-22-2004 at 10:05am
Hey guys thanks for giving Muchtolearn(my mom)all those great suggestions. The spot for the tree is right on the corner of her front yard. bordering, enclosing the front is a beautiful dogwood at one end by the driveway and a row of azelas and then the spot for the new tree to be. she doesn't want a tree that will get much bigger then 25ft tall or wide. if its to wide won't it affect the azleas and those cherry tress shes talking about are quite large. they shade the side of the house nicely. so a tree that would provide some shading for the front but still has a more open spread (for planting under)for light.
what about beech or birch trees? would they be a good choice?
jenn
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DebbieTT
Posted: Jul-22-2004 at 10:33am
I don't know about beech but birch trees you will want to choose wisely as they tend to be buggy. The Asian birches I believe are resistant to bugs.
Kym from the Oregonians Top 25 Small Trees
Acer griseum (Paperbark maple)
Acer palmatum 'Shishigahira' (Lion's mane maple)
Aralia elata 'Variegata' (Variegated Japanese angelica tree) I lust for this one!
Arbutus unedo (Strawberry tree) I don't think this will work for your mom.
Clerodendrum trichotomum (Harlequin glorybower)
Cercis canadensis (Easter redbud)
Chionanthus virginicus (Fringetree)
Cornus kousa (Kousa dogwood)
Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple' (Smoke tree) I have this it is wonderful purple foliage!
Cryptomeria japonica 'Spiralis' (Japanese cedar) conifer
Franklinia alatamaha (Franklin tree)
Garrya elliptica (silk-tassel bush) may not be tall enough at 12 feet.
Genista aetnensis (Mount Etna broom)
Hamamelis japonica 'Arborea' (Japanese witch hazel)
Lagerstroemia indica 'Catawba' (Crape myrtle) may not be tall enough at 10 feet.
Magnolia 'Ann', 'Susan', 'Pinkie', or 'Judy'
Malus transitoria 'Schmidtcutleaf' (Golden raindrops crabapple)
Oxydendrum arboreum (Sourwood)
Parrotia persica 'Pendula' (Persian ironwood)
Stewartia sinensis (Chinese stewartia)
Styrax japonicus (Japanese snowbell)
Trochodendron aralioides (Wheel tree)
Vitex agnus-castus (Chaste tree)
Prunus serrula (Birch-bark cherry)
Now there is a list to buy for, although not all would be suitable for mum!
I will add my all time favorite would be Stewartia pseudocamellia (Japanese stewartia). Its bark peels off in strips of different colors of gray, orange and brown. New leaves emerge bronze-purple and fall leaves are orange, red and bronze-red colors. White, three inch, camellia-like flowers in July. This is an excellent year round tree!
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The face of a child can say it all, especially the mouth part of the face. -Jack Handey
Lisa A
Posted: Jul-24-2004 at 11:10am
Kym's list is a good place to start - so many treasures!
As I often do when the weather gets too hot for my comfort, I contemplate cutting out part of my concrete patio to plant a tree for shade. I went to one of my oft-used tree websites and found out I can do a tree search by attribute. Very cool! I came up with Parrotia persica and Pistachia chinensis as 2 possibilities for my site. My attribute search included low root damage potential, high canopy (shade the house, too), nice fall color, little tree litter . . . can't remember what else I chose but root damage potential was key since I don't want whatever I plant to damage the remaining patio.
Plug in your needs here and see what they suggest, muchtolearn. Be sure to put in your zone information since the site is California based and not all of their options will grow for us here.
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Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.
~ Chinese fortune cookie
Kathi
Posted: Jul-24-2004 at 8:04pm I have a parrotia persica that I planted 1 1/2 years ago, at the center of one of the paths by our back decks. It is a beautiful tree, hasn't been plagued by anything, hasn't bat an eye at our drought/cold, and is filling in quite nicely. I have an herb garden planted in front of/around it, and it is doing great! In fact, it runs third in my fav trees in my yard. #1 being my Katsura, #2 being a cercis, then the parrotia. Slow growing, albeit, but, a wonderful little tree.
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mdvaden
Posted: Aug-02-2004 at 7:29pm
The past few days, I've been driving in Beaverton area taking tree photos - ID and problems.
There are a lot of Raywood Ash around here - reminded me those have problems - a lot of breakage due to the angle of branching.
So in addition to my one suggestion above, I'm adding Raywood Ash to the post as one tree to avoid unless you have premium soil to begin with, can pick a near perfect tree to start with, and can give it near perfect pruning every year.
It's dissappointing too, because that tree here, has a very nice fall color, and a very soft leaf texture.
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