Archive for the ‘Medium sized Tree’ Category

Rebuilding A Storm Damaged Young Tree

                An enormous 60 foot white pine toppled over several smaller trees. The aftermath was a severely damaged  3- year old sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana). Replacing the  3 1/2 inch diameter tree would have cost the homeowner over $300. My recommendation to the homeowner was to cut back the magnolia trunk to approximately 12 inches from the ground in […]

Japanese Pagoda Tree Becoming Popular In U.S. Cities

U.S. east coast cities are finally planting Japanese Pagodatree (Styphnolobium japonicum). This medium-sized tree grows to 50 feet high, but 75 feet is not uncommon in the southeastern U.S. Pagodatree is native to eastern Asia (USDA hardiness zones 4 –8) where it is more known as Scholar tree. In the early 20th century it was […]

Beautiful Giant Dogwood Has Some Limitations

Giant dogwood (Cornus controversa) is a medium-sized deciduous tree that grows to 35 to 40 feet high (in the wild to 60 feet) in USDA hardiness zones 5 to 7. This Asian native (China and Japan) is cherished for its distinctive horizontal (tiered) branching habit. Giant dogwood prefers an acidic, organically rich, moisture, well-drained soil. […]

Challenging Sourwood Worth A Try

Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum), aka lily of the valley tree, is one of the most beautiful U.S. native flowering trees (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). However, attempting to establish one in your landscape may prove challenging. The tree grows in sparse populations from eastern Tennessee, western North Carolina, and Georgia Piedmont. It grows naturally to 20-30 feet […]

Tips On Growing Sourwood Trees

Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum) is one of the most beautiful flowering trees in the U.S. Trying to establish one in your landscape can prove quite challenging. In the wild sourwood grows in shallow soils on steep craggy or rocky ground. Dry ground seems to be the rule. It grows either multi-stemmed (shrub-like) to 20-30 feet or […]

Stop Ignoring And Start Planting Hophornbeam

Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) is a medium sized tree native to the eastern half of North America (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). The tree is practically ignored by landscape designers and installers. Few nurserymen grow it. Hophornbeam is often confused with the true hornbeams (Carpinus spp.). Both are called “ironwood”, referring to the hard muscular wood of […]

Dwarf Southern Magnolia Cultivars

Small 5-6 Year Old ‘Little Gem’ Magnolia Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) is remarkably hardy in USDA zone 6. This evergreen magnolia prefers a moist well-drained, slightly acidic soil, and planted in a partial to full sun location.  It is a long-lived large 70-80 feet tall tree, best suited to large commercial and residential properties, golf […]

Parrotia: A Great Medium-sized Landscape Tree

Parrotia (Parrotia persica), aka “Persian ironwood”, is native to Iran, Turkey, and the Caucasus region. Parrotia forms a lovely carefree medium sized lawn or street tree. Tree framework is vase-shaped, initially narrow at the base and flaring out in the canopy as it ages. Mature tree height varies 25-40 feet, depending on location and the seedling or cultivar planted. Rated hardy in USDA  […]

Yellowwood Not Every Year Bloomer

  American yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea) is a medium-sized flowering tree. In the month of May, a beautiful yellowwood tree is in bloom somewhere in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zone 6 and 7). The 1- 1 1/2  inch white pea blossoms comprise the 8-14 inch long wisteria-like panicles which drape from branch and twig tips. Yellowwood may bloom 2 to 3 consecutive years […]

‘Bosque’ Lacebark Elm – a Better Choice

Recent storm damage has caused a re-evaluation, whether to continue to plant the cultivar Allee®, also called ‘Emerald Vase’. Urban foresters around the state of Tennessee report that limb breakage and clean up around Allee elms is greater than around other cultivars. Bosque seemed to fare much better. Lacebark elm (Ulmus parvifolia) is a beautiful […]